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rl.VG.  PRBSEXTSn ETi'  rUS  Zu^TE  BISHC: 


THE    HISTOKY 


O'P    ,, 


METHODISM  IN  KENTUCKY. 


BY  THE  REV.  A.  H.  REDFORD 


VOLUME    I. 


FROM   THE   LANDING   OF    JAMES    m'bRIDE    IN    THE    DISTRICT,    IN    1754, 
TO   THE   CONFERENCE   OF    1808. 


SOUTHERN  METHODIST  PUBLISHING  HOUSE. 

186S. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of   Congress,  in  the  year  1868,  by 

A.  11.  REDFORD, 

in  the  District  Court  of  the  United  Statea  for  the  Middle  District  of  Tennessee. 


R.    CULLIN,    STEREOTYPER,    SOUTHERN    METHODIST    PUBLISHING    HOUSE, 
NASHVILLE,    TENNESSEE. 


TO    THE 

MEMBERS    ANID    FRIENDS 

OF    THE 

Itdfefliist  ^^iscopl  &\)m\i  BMi  in  Juatuclm, 

THIS    HISTORY 

IS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED  BY 


279140 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

FROM  THE   SETTLEMENT   OF   KENTUCKY   TO   THE   CONFERENCE   OF    1787. 

Daniel  Boone — James  McBride — Dr.  Walker — John  Finley — 
The  early  emigrants — Kentucky  formed  into  a  county — Indian 
cruelties — James  Haw,  Benjamin  Ogden,  the  first  Methodist 
missionaries  to  Kentucky — William  Hickman — James  Smith 
— Elijah,  Lewis,  and  Joseph  Craig — Tanner — Bailey — Bledsoe 
—  Baptist  Church  organized  —  The  Presbyterian  Church  — 
David  Eice  —  Bly the  —  Lyle  —  Welch  —  McNamar  —  Stone  — 
Reynolds  —  Stewart  —  First  Presbytery  formed  —  Bishop  As- 
bury  —  Benjamin  Ogden,  a  revolutionary  soldier  —  Francis 
Clark  —  William  J.  Thompson — Nathanael  Harris  —  Gabriel 
and  Daniel  Woodfield  —  Philip  Taylor  —  Joseph  Ferguson  — 
Methodism  planted  in  Kentucky  by  Francis  Clark,  a  local 
preacher  —  John  Durham  —  Thomas  Stevenson  —  Mrs.  Sarah 
Stevenson — The  character  of  the  early  preachers — Mrs.  Jane 
Stamper 17 


CHAPTER    II. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1787  TO  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1789. 

Kentucky  Circuit  —  James  Haw  —  Cumberland  Circuit  —  Ben- 
jamin Ogden — Wilson  Lee — Thomas  Williamson — Kentucky 
Circuit  divided  —  Francis   Poythress  —  Devereaux  Jarrat  — 

Peter  Massie — Benjamin  Snelling  —  Local  preachers 34 

(5) 


6  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    III. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1789  TO  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1790. 

Interesting  letter  from  James  Haw — Barnabas  McIIenry — Ste- 
phen Brooks  —  Cumberland  Circuit  —  James  Haw  —  James 
O'Kelly  —  Interesting  account  of  James  Haw,  by  Learner 
Blackman  —  James  O'Cull :  his  style  of  preaching  —  Poor 
support  of  preachers — Kindness  of  the  Baltimore  Conference.     4G 


CHAPTER    IV. 

FROM   THE   FIRST   CONFERENCE    HELD    IN    KENTUCKY,  IN    1790,    TO   THE 
CONFERENCE   OF   1792. 

Bishop  Asbury's  first  visit  to  Kentucky — The  first  Annual  Con- 
ference in  the  District  held  at  Masterson's  Station,  near  Lex- 
ington— Richard  Whatcoat — Hope  Hull — John  Seawell — First 
Methodist  Church  in  Kentucky — Peter  Massie — John  Clark — 
The  Conference  composed  of  six  members — Limestone  and 
Madison  Circuits — Henry  Birchett — David  Haggard — Samuel 
Tucker — Joseph  Lillard — Death  of  Samuel  Tucker — Bfethel 
Academy — T^Iadison  Circuit  disappears  from  the  Minutes — 
Salt  Pdver  Circuit — Barnabas  McHenry — Death  of  Peter  Mas- 
sie— Life  and  death  of  Simeon 07 


CHAPTER    V. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1792  TO  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1793. 

Kentucky  admitted  into  the  Union — Isaac  Shelby  the  first  Gov- 
ernor —  The  imperiled  condition  of  the  State  —  Preparations 
for  its  defense  —  The  counties  of  Lincoln,  Fayette,  Jefferson, 
Nelson,  Bourbon,  Madison,  Mercer,  Woodford,  Mason,  Green, 
Hardin,  Scott,  Logan,  Shelby,  and  Washington — The  Confer- 
ence of  1792  —  Bishop  Asbury  present  —  Beligious  condition 
of  the  State  —  Col.  John  Hardin — He  is  sent  on  a  mission  of 
peace  to  the  Indians — Is  massacred  —  Col.  Hardin  a  l^Ieth- 
odist — Isaac  Hammer — John  Sewell  —  Richard  Bird  —  Ben- 
jamin  Northcutt^ John    Ray  —  Anecdotes   of  John    Ray  — 


CONTENTS.  7 

John  Page  —  Dr.  McFerrin's  testimony  —  Letters  of  John 
Page  —  Bishops  Asbury,  Whatcoat,  and  Coke  —  Wilson  Lee 
leaves  Kentucky HO 


CHAPTER    VI. 

FROM    THE   CONFEllENCE   OF    1793    TO   THE   CONFERENCE   OF    1794. 

Conference  held  this  year  in  Kentucky  at  Masterson's  Station — 
Dangers  encountered  by  Bishop  Asbury  to  reach  Kentucky— 
His  immense  labors — Jacob  Lurton — James  Ward — William 
Burke  —  John  Ball  —  Gabriel  Woodfield  —  Death  of  Henry 
Birchett 147 


CHAPTER    VII. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1794  TO  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1796, 

Gen.  Anthony  Wayne — Gen.  St.  Clair — His  expedition  against 
the  Indians  unsuccessful — The  campaign  of  1794 — The  battle 
near  the  rapids  of  the  Miami — Gen.  Wayne's  victory  complete 
—  The  Indian  war  brought  to  a  successful  termination  — 
Treaty  of  peace  concluded  —  The  Conference  of  1794  —  John 
Metcalf — Thomas  Scott  —  Peter  Guthrie  —  Tobias  Gibson — 
Moses  Speer — Conference  of  1795 — William  Duzan  —  John 
Buxton  —  Aquila  Sugg — Francis  Acuff :  his  Death  —  Thomas 
Wilkerson — The  small  increase  in  members 169 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1796  TO  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1797. 

The  Conference  of  1796  held  at  Masterson's  Chapel — Jeremiah 
Lawson — Aquila  Jones  —  Benjamin  Lakin — John  Watson  — 
Henry  Smith — John  Baird — Increase  in  membership — Shelby 
Circuit 204 


8  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    IX. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1797  TO  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1799. 

The  Conference  of  1797  held  at  Bethel  Academy — Bishop  As- 
bury  —  Thomas  Allen  —  Francis  Poythress — "Williams  Kav- 
anaugh — John  Kobler — Decrease  in  membership  —  The  Con- 
ference of  1798  held  on  Holston  —  Robert  Wilkerson  — 
Valentine  Cook — Increase  in  membership — John  Kobler,  the 
first  missionary  to  Ohio 218 

CHAPTER    X. 

FROM     THE     CONFERENCE     OF     1799     TO     THE     CONFERENCE     HELD     IN 
APRIL,     1800. 

The  Conference  held  at  Bethel  Academy — Daniel  Gossage — Far- 
ther increase  in  membership — The  decline  in  membership 
between  the  years  1792  and  1800,  and  the  causes — Emigra- 
tion from  the  State — The  O'Kelly  schism — Legislation  on  the 
subject  of  slavery — Prevalent  infidelity — Erroneous  doctrines 
— John  and  William  McGee — The  great  revival — Bed  Biver 
Church — Muddy  Biver — The  Bidge  meeting — Desha's  Creek — 
Letter  from  the  Bev.  John  McGee 218 

CHAPTER    XI. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1800,  HELD  AT  DUNWORTH,  ON  HOLSTON, 
ON  THE  FIRST  FRIDAY  IN  APRIL,  TO  THE  CONFERENCE  HELD  AT 
BETHEL  ACADEMY,  KENTUCKY^  COMMENCING  ON  THE  SIXTH  DAY 
OF   THE   FOLLOWING   OCTOBER, 

Local  preachers — John  Nelson — Bobert  Strawbridge — Francis 
Clark — Gabriel  and  Daniel  Woodfield — John  Baird — Benja- 
min Northcutt — Nathanael  Harris — Philip  W.  Taylor — Henry 
Ogburn — William  Forman — Joseph  Ferguson — The  Confer- 
ence in  the  spring  of  1800 — The  General  Conference — William 
Burke — Thomas  Shelton — Controversy  with  the  Baptists — 
William  Burke  chosen  Presiding  Elder — The  Bevival — San- 
dusky Station — William  Algood — Hezekiah  Ilarriman — John 
Sale — Jonathan  Kidwell 273 


CONTENTS.  9 

CHAPTER    XII. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  HELD  AT  BETHEL  ACADEMY,  OCTOBER  6,  1800, 
TO  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1801. 

Representative  women — Mrs.  Lydia  Wickliffe — Mrs.  Sally  Helm 
— Mrs.  Sarah  Stevenson — Mrs.  Mary  Davis — Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Durbin — Mrs.  Jane  Hardin — Mrs.  Jane  Stamper — Mrs.  Mary 
T.  Hinde — Conference  held  October  6,  1800,  the  second  in 
Kentucky  for  this  year — Bishops  Asbury  and  Whatcoat  pres- 
ent— The  Conference  Journal — William  McKendree — Lewis 
Hunt — William  Marsh — The  spread  of  the  great  revival — 
Ilai  Nunn — Major  John  Martin — Dr.  Hinde — Increase  of 
membership 302 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1801  TO  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1803. 

The  Western  Conference  —  The  early  centers  of  Methodism  iu 
Kentucky  —  Clarke's  Station  —  Ferguson's  Chapel  —  Level 
Woods — Chaplin — Brick  Chapel — Ebenezer — Grassy  Lick — 
Muddy  Creek — Foxtown — Mount  Gerizim — Thomas's  Meet- 
ing-house— Sandusky  Station — The  Conference  of  1801  held 
at  Ebenezer — Bishop  Asbury  present  —  Nicholas  Snethen  — 
Lewis  Garrett — Large  increase  in  membership — The  Confer- 
ence of  1802  held  at  Strother's,  in  Tennessee — Bishop  Asbury 
present — Samuel  Douthet — William  Crutchfield — Ralph  Lot- 
speich  —  James  Gwin — Jacob  Young  —  Jesse  Walker  —  Red 
River  Circuit — Barren  Circuit — Winn  Malone — Wayne  Cir- 
cuit— Increase  of  membership 386 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

FROM  TEE  CONFERENCE  OF  1803  TO  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1808. 

Conference  meets  at  Mount  Gerizim  —  Bishop  Asbury  present 
—  Anthony  Houston  —  John  McClure  —  Adjet  McGuire  — 
Fletcher  Sullivan  —  Louther  Taylor  —  John  A.  Granade  — 
Learner   Blackman  —  Increase   of   membership  —  The   Con- 


10  CONTENTS. 

ference  of  1801 — Abdel  Coleman — Joshua  Barnes — Joshua 
Riggin — William  J.  Thompson  —  Edmund  Wilcox  —  James 
Axley  —  Peter  Cartwright — Asa  Shinn  —  Benjamin  Edge  — 
Miles  Harper  —  George  Askins  —  Samuel  Parker  —  Death  of 
Wilson  Lee — Livingston  and  Hartford  Circuit — Churches  or- 
ganized in  Ohio  county — Church  organized  at  Thomas  Stith's, 
in  Breckinridge  county — Thomas  Taylor — Margaret  Taylor — 
Licking  Circuit — Increase  of  membership — The  Conference  of 
1805— Bishop  Asbury  present— Thomas  Heliums— Henry  Fisher 
— Samuel  Sellers — David  Young — Moses  Ashworth — William 
Ellington  —  Richard  Browning — William  Houston  —  Joshua 
Oglesby — A  small  class  in  Louisville — Increase  in  membership 
— Conference  of  1806 — Bishop  Asbury  present — Abbot  God- 
dard — Hector  Sandford — Joseph  Bennett — Frederick  Hood — 
Zadoc  B.  Thaxton — Abraham  Amos— Joseph  Williams — John 
Thompson — William  Hitt — Joseph  Oglesby — The  first  deed  of 
ground,  on  which  to  build  a  church,  in  Mason  county  —  In- 
crease of  membership — The  Conference  of  1807 — Bishop  As- 
bury present  —  Thomas  Stillwell  —  Mynus  Lay  ton  —  Josiah 
Crawford  —  John  Craig  —  William  Lewis  —  Jacob  Turman  — 
Henry  Mallory — James  King — Sela  Paine — Milton  Ladd — 
Joseph  Hays — Elisha  W.  Bowman — The  Silver  Creek  Circuit, 
in  Indiana  Territory,  formed — Kennerly  Chapel — Pond  Meet- 
ing-house—  Increase  in  membership  —  Causes  of  locations  — 
Our  Review... 429 


PREFACE 


The  History  of  Methodism  iu  Kentucky  cannot  be 
otherwise  than  interesting,  if  faithfully  delineated.  Organ- 
ized in  the  District  when  there  was  scarcely  a  cabin  outside 
of  the  forts  in  all  its  broad  domain — its  standard-bearers 
exposed  to  privations,  sufferings,  and  dangers,  the  recital 
of  which  seem  more  like  romantic  stories,  selected  from 
the  legends  of  fable,  than  the  sober  realities  of  histor}^ — 
planted  and  nourished  amid  opposition  and  difficulties  that 
brave  hearts  only  could  surmount,  the  extraordinary  suc- 
cess that  has  attended  it,  growing  up  in  eighty  years  from 
a  single  society  of  only  a  few  members  to  a  membership 
of  nearly  fifty  thousand,  w4th  more  than  five  hundred 
ministers,  (traveling  and  local,)  church -edifices  in  every 
community,  schools  and  seminaries  of  learning  in  different 
portions  of  the  State  —  its  truths  proclaimed  in  every 
neighborhood,  and  its  vital  energies  and  hallowed  influ- 
ence imparting  life  to  other  Christian  communions,  it  is 
invested  with  an  importance  at  once  attractive  and  com- 
manding.    "While  the  rich  have  sought  its  temples,  and 

(IT) 


12  ,  ..;  ";\P,R^11J?.ACE. 

worshiped  at^  ^ts^  alt^r^, .  its  peculiar  glory  has  been  that 
it  searched  Vfiir  tli^'poipr,,,{^d  carried  the  tidings  of  a 
Redeemer's  love  to  the  homes  of  sorrow  and  of  want. 

Not  seeking  controversies  with  other  denominations  of 
Christians,  but  desirous  to  live  on  terms  of  amity  and  in 
Christian  fellowship  with  all  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus, 
its  ministers  have  everywhere  preached  the  doctrines 
of  the  Bible,  as  contained  in  our  Articles  of  Religion; 
while  they  have  not  at  any  time  shrunk  from  the  vindi- 
cation of  its  teachings  and  truths,  by  whomsoever  assailed. 

Anxious  for  the  success  of  Christianity,  and  the  exten- 
sion of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  it  cheerfully  bids  God 
speed  to  all  who  love  the  Saviour,  and  rejoices  in  the 
prosperity  of  Zion,  whether  in  its  own  or  in  other 
branches  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

The  biographical  sketches  to  be  found  in  these  pages 
are  simply  sketches.  They  claim  to  be  nothing  more. 
The  limits  of  our  work,  Avhen  we  take  into  consideration 
the  number  of  the  ministers  who  have  occupied  this 
field,  and  have  been  called  "from  labor  to  reward,"  forbid 
our  indulging  in  detailed  historical  narrative.  In  many 
instances  Ave  desired  to  give  more  lengthened  accounts 
of  the  lives  and  labors  of  the  noble  men  who  laid  the 
foundations  of  Methodism  in  these  western  wilds,  but  we 
dared  not  gratify  our  own  wishes.  We  have  allowed  all 
the  space  which  might  be  considered  expedient. 

We  regret  that  in  many  instances  our  information  has 
been  so  meager.  To  ascertain  all  that  we  could,  we  liave 
spared  neither   pains,   expense,  nor   labor,  in    our   efforts 


PREFACE.  13 

to  become  possessed  of  all  the  information  to  be  obtained. 
We  have  searched  the  records  of  the  Church,  and 
availed  ourselves  of  a  close  and  faithful  examination 
of  the  General  Minutes,  the  Methodist  Magazine,  Quar- 
terly Reviews,  and  the  weekly  journals  of  the  Church, 
together  with  several  volumes  of  Church -history,  bio- 
graphical sketches,  autobiographies,  unpublished  manu- 
scripts of  pioneer  preachers,  and  extensive  private  cor- 
respondence, that  we  might  elicit  every  thing  yet  remaining 
that  connects  the  present  with  the  past. 

That  many  facts,  incidents,  and  matters  of  importance, 
in  reference  to  Methodism  in  Kentucky,  are  lost  to  us 
for  ever,  we  cannot  doubt.  Many  of  the  most  reliable 
sources  of  information  are  closed.  Only  one  of  the  noble 
men  identified  with  the  fortunes  of  the  Church  in  Ken- 
tucky, previous  to  the  j)eriod  at  which  this  volume  closes, 
yet  remains.  Bending  beneath  the  w^eight  of  eighty-three 
years,  he  is  still  able  to  preach  the  gospel.  We  are, 
however,  happy  to  believe  that  much  may  hereafter  be 
discovered,  that  may  invest  a  future  edition  with  greater 
interest. 

It  has  been  for  many  years  our  anxious  desire  that  some 
one  would  rescue  from  oblivion  the  names  and  the  mem- 
ories of  the  pioneer  preachers  of  Kentucky,  and  place 
their  lives  and  labors  in  a  permanent  and  enduring  form. 
The  fact  that  no  one  else  has  accepted  the  task,  is  our 
apology  for  having  undertaken  it.  For  several  years  we 
have  been  collecting  materials  for  this  work,  and  amid  the 
arduous  duties  of  the   Book  Agency,  we   have  prepared 


14  PREFACE. 

this  volume  for  the  press,  and  now  submit  it  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church. 

If  in  these  pages  we  have  contributed  any  thing  toAvard 
the  advancement  of  religious  truth — if  in  recounting  the 
difficulties  under  which  Methodism  was  planted  in  Ken- 
tucky, its  principles  shall  be  rendered  dearer  to  the 
Church  —  and  if  we  have  recovered  the  memory  of  any 
of  those  worthies  to  whom,  under  God,  we  are  so  greatly 
indebted  for  the  rich  inheritance  they  have  bequeathed  us^ 
we  shall  feel  that  our  labor  has  not  been  in  vain. 

A.    H.    KEDFORD. 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  May  1,  1868. 


METHODISM  IN  KENTUCKY. 


HISTOHY 


OF 


METHODISM  IN  KENTUCKY. 


CHAPTER   I. 

FROM  THE  SETTLEMENT  OP  KENTUCKY  TO  THE  CONFER- 
ENCE OF  1787. 

Daniel  Boone — James  McBride — Dr.  Walker — John  Finley — The 
early  emigrants — Kentucky  formed  into  a  county — Indian  cruelties 
— James  Haw,  Benjamin  Ogden,  the  first  Methodist  missionaries 
to  Kentucky — William  Hickman — James  Smith — Elijah,  Lewis, 
and  Joseph  Craig — Tanner — Bailey — Bledsoe — Baptist  Church 
organized — The  Presbyterian  Church — David  Eice — Blythe — Lyle 
— Welch — McNamar — Stone — Reynolds — Stewart — First  Presby- 
tery formed — Bishop  Asbury — Benjamin  Ogden,  a  revolutionary 
soldier — Francis  Clark — William  J.  Thompson — Nathanael  Harris 
— Gabriel  and  Daniel  Woodfield — Philip  Taylor — Joseph  Ferguson 
— Methodism  planted  in  Kentucky  by  Francis  Clark,  a  local 
preacher — John  Durham — Thomas  Stevenson — Mrs.  Sarah  Steven- 
son—The character  of  the  early  preachers — Mrs.  Jane  Stamper. 

The  early  history  of  Kentucky  presents  a  record 
of  savage  cruelties,  of  extreme  suffering,  and  of 
heroic  endurance.  The  name  of  Daniel  Boone,  the 
first  white  settler  who  sought  a  home  amid  its  dark 

VOL.  I.  (17) 


18  METHODISM 

and  almost  impenetrable  forests,  and  whose  dust 
now  slumbers  beneath  its  soil,  wdll  always  be  held 
in  kind  remembrance.  The  first  discovery  of  Ken- 
tucky, however,  was  made  by  James  McBride,  who 
as  early  as  1754  "  passed  down  the  Ohio  River,  with 
some  others,  in  canoes,  landed  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Kentucky  River,  and  marked  the  initials  of  his  name 
and  date  upon  a  tree."*  Four  years  later.  Dr. 
Walker,  led  by  curiosity,  or  by  the  spirit  of  adven- 
ture, made  a  brief  trip  to  the  north-eastern  portion 
of  the  District,  t  Wme  years  afterward,  and  only 
two  years  previous  to  the  date  of  Boone's  first 
entrance  into  Kentucky,  John  Finley,  with  some 
other  Indian-traders  from  North  Carolina,  made  a 
considerable  tour  through  it.J  The  sta}-,  however, 
of  McBride,  Walker,  and  Finley,  was  short,  and  to 
Daniel  Boone  belongs  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
pioneer. 

The  first  emigrants  to  the  District  of  Kentucky 
were  chiefly  composed  of  men  who  were  "  rough, 
independent,  and  simple  in  their  habits,  careless 
and  improvident  in  their  dealings,  frank  of  speech, 
and  unguarded  in  their  intercourse  with  each  other 
and  with  strangers,  friendly,  hospitable,  and  gener- 
ous." Deprived  of  educational  advantages,  they 
were  generally  their  own  school-masters,  and  their 
book  the  volume  of  nature.  It  was  not  the  dull, 
the  unaspiring,  the  idle,  but  the  bold,  the  resolute. 


*  Methodist  Magazine,  Vol.  III.,  p.  386. 

f  Collins's  Kentucky,  p.  18. 

t  ^lethodist  Magazine,  Vol.  III.,  p.  386. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  19 

the  ambitious,  who  came  to  carve  out  their  homes 
from  the  kingly  forests  of  the  fresh  and  untouched 
wilderness. 

The  settlement  of  Kentucky  by  the  Anglo- 
American  pioneer  was  no  easy  task.  The  fierce 
and  merciless  savage  stubbornly  disputed  the  right 
to  the  soil.  The  attempt  to  locate  upon  these  rich 
and  fertile  lands  was  a  proclamation  of  war — of  war 
whose  conflict  should  be  more  cruel  than  had  been 
known  in  all  the  bloody  pages  of  the  past.  On  his 
captive  the  Indian  inflicted  the  most  relentless  tor- 
ture. Neither  the  innocence  of  infancy,  the  tears  of 
beauty,  nor  the  decrepitude  of  age,  could  awaken 
his  sympathy  or  touch  his  heart.  The  tomahawk 
and  the  stake  were  the  instruments  of  his  cruelty. 
But  notwithstanding  the  dangers  that  constantly  im- 
periled the  settlers,  attracted  by  the  glowing  accounts 
of  the  beauty  of  the  country  and  the  fertility  of  the 
soil,  brave  hearts  were  found  that  were  willing  to 
leave  their  patrimonial  homes  in  Carolina  and  Vir- 
ginia, and  hazard  their  lives  amid  the  frowning 
forests  of  the  "West.  Thus  valuable  accessions 
were  continually  received  by  the  first  emigrants. 

In  the  winter  of  1776,  Kentucky  was  formed  into 
a  county.  Although  this  act  invested  the  people 
with  the  right  to  a  separate  county  court,  to 
justices  of  the  peace,  a  sheriff,  constable,  coroner, 
and  militia  ofl3.cers,  but  few  instances  occurred  in 
which  it  was  necessary  for  the  law  to  assert  its 
supremacy.  Banded  together  by  the  ties  of  a  com- 
mon interest,  and  alike  exposed  to  suffering  and 
to  peril,  it  was   but  seldom   that  any   disposition 


20  METHODISM 

was  evinced  to  encroach  upon  the  rights  of  another. 
For  mutual  comfort,  as  well  as  for  mutual  protection, 
the  people  dwelt  principally  in  forts,  by  which 
means  they  were  the  better  prepared  for  a  defense 
from  the  frequent  attacks  of  the  Indians. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  describe  the  sufferings 
of  the  first  settlers  in  Kentucky — they  are  beyond 
description;  3^et  we  may  imagine  the  anguish  of 
heart  endured  by  the  husband  and  father,  whose 
wife  and  children  had  become  a  prey  to  savage  vig- 
ilance and  cruelty,  or  to  the  tortures,  worse  than 
death,  inflicted  upon  the  Indian's  helpless  captive; 
or  we  may  attempt  to  realize  the  grief,  whose  deep- 
est shades  bad  fallen  upon  the  breaking  heart  of  the 
wife  and  mother,  as  the  shadows  of  the  evening 
gather  around  her  lonely  home,  and  she  listens  in 
vain  for  the  familiar  footstep  of  him  on  whose  strong 
arm  she  had  trusted  for  protection,  or  for  the  return 
of  those  little  ones  that  had  been  the  light  of  her 
home  and  the  joy  of  her  heart.  "Words  cannot 
express,  nor  mind  can  scarce  conceive,  the  pain  that 
hardy  race  endured.  A  lifetime  of  suffering  is 
sometimes  crowded  into  a  single  hour.  It  was  so 
with  them.  The  hostility  of  the  Indian  never  slum- 
bered; and  during  this  period,  capture,  torture,  and 
death  inflicted  in  the  most  cruel  manner  that  savage 
malignity  could  invent,  were  of  common  occurrence. 
On  one  hand  were  instances  of  shocking  barbari- 
ties ;  and  on  the  other  of  long  captivities,  of  untold 
sufferings,  of  deeds  of  daring,  and  of  heroic  achieve- 
ments, which  seem  more  like  romance  than  reality. 
These  noble  men,  so  patient  under  all  the  pangs  of 


IN    KENTUCKY.  21 

war,  and  want,  and  wretchedness,  were  the  benefac- 
tors of  the  West;  and  though  no  marble  pillar  may 
mark  the  spot  where  many  of  them  rest,  yet  they 
live  embalmed  in  the  aiFections  of  a  grateful  people — ■ 
a  monument  far  more  enduring. 

It  was  during  this  period  and  amid  these  dangers 
that  James  Haw  and  Benjamin  Ogden  w^ere  ap- 
pointed missionaries  to  the  District  of  Kentucky. 
Previous  to  this  time  Methodism  had  been  estab- 
lished in  the  States  of  I^ew  York,  Kew  Jersey, 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Virginia,  iTorth  Carolina, 
and  in  portions  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia ;  but 
up  to  this  date  the  General  Minutes  report  no  Church 
under  its  auspices  in  Kentucky.  Baptist  ministers 
were  the  first  to  proclaim  the  truths  of  Christianity 
here.  As  early  as  1776,  the  Rev.  "William  Hickman, 
a  man  of  piety,  came  from  Virginia  on  a  tour  of 
observation,  and  during  his  stay  devoted  much  of  his 
time  to  preaching  the  gospel.  He  was  perhaps  the 
first  preacher  of  any  denomination  who  lifted  the 
standard  of  the  cross  on  "the  dark  and  bloody 
ground."  Other  Baptist  ministers  soon  followed, 
among  w^hom  were  James  Smith,  Elijah,  Lewis,  and 
Joseph  Craig,  and  Messrs.  Tanner,  Bailey,  and  Bled- 
soe. The  Baptist  Church,  however,  was  not  organ- 
ized until  the  year  1781.  Their  first  organization 
w^as  known  as  the  Gilbert's  Creek  Church,  located 
on  Gilbert's  Creek,  a  few  miles  from  where  the  town 


*  When  Lewis  Craig  left  Spottsylvania  county,  Virginia,  most  of 
his  large  Church  there  came  with  him.    They  were  constituted  when 


22  METHODISM 

The  Presbyterian  Churcliwas  organized  at  a  later 
period.  The  first  Presbyterian  preacher  who  came 
to  Kentucky  was  the  Rev.  David  Rice.  He  immi- 
grated to  Kentucky  from  Virginia  in  1783,  and 
settled  in  Mercer  county.  Previous  to  this  date 
small  bodies  of  Presbyterians  had  settled  in  the 
neighborhoods  of  Danville,  Cane  Run,  and  the  forks 
of  Dick's  River. 

These  were  gathered  into  regular  congregations 
by  Mr.  Rice,  and  as  he  had  opportunity'  ''  he  minis- 
tered to  them  in  holy  things."  In  the  meantime 
other  Presbyterian  ministers  followed  Mr.  Rice, 
among  whom  were  Messrs.  James  Ely  the,  John 
Lyle,*  Welch,  McN"amar,  Stone,  Reynolds,  and 
Stewart;  and  in  the  year  1786,  the  first  Presbytery 
was  organized,  under  the  name  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Transylvania. t 

It  was  in  this  year  that,  at  the  hands  of  Bishop 
Asbury,  James  Haw  and  Benjamin  Ogden  received 
their  appointment  to  Kentucky.  The  Conference 
from  wdience  they  were  sent  was  held  in  the  city  of 
Baltimore.  A  long  and  perilous  journey  through  a 
pathless  and  untrodden  wilderness  lay  before  them, 
and  at  the  termination  a  dense  forest,  inhabited  by 
savage  beasts  and  the  no  less  savage  Indian ;  while 

they  started,  and  were  an  organized  Church  on  the  road.  Wherever 
they  stopped  they  could  transact  Church-business.  They  settled  at 
Craig's  Station,  on  Gilbert's  Creek,  a  few  miles  east  of  where  the 
town  of  Lancaster,  Garrard  county,  is  now  situated. — History  of 
Ten  Churches,  p.  42. 

■^  Bishop  Kavanaugh  lived  several  years,  when  a  youth,  with  Mr. 
Lyle,  and  was  traveling  witli  him  when  converted. 

f  CoUins's  Kentucky,  p.  132. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  23 

no  official  board  to  hold  out  the  generous  hand  of 
welcome,  no  church-edifice,  no  comfortable  home, 
awaited  their  arrival.  James  Haw  was  admitted  on 
trial  at  the  Conference  held  at  Ellis's  Preaching- 
house,  in  Sussex  county,  Virginia,  April  17,  1782, 
and  had  traveled  the  South  Branch,  Amelia,  Bed- 
ford, and  Brunswick  Circuits,  all  lying  in  the  State 
of  Virginia.  Mr.  Haw  was  familiar  with  the  sacri- 
fices incident  to  the  life  of  an  itinerant  Methodist 
preacher  in  his  da}^  He  was  inured  to  hardship. 
Kentucky  was  Mr.  Ogden's  first  appointment,  yet 
he  was  no  stranger  to  privations.  Though  only 
twenty -two  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Kentucky, 
he  had  participated  in  the  American  struggle  for 
independence.  He  had  followed  the  fortunes  of  the 
American  arms  when  only  a  youth,  during  the  years 
of  the  Revolution,  amid  assault,  pursuit,  and  slaugh- 
ter. He  knew  what  privations  meant.  In  his 
soldier-life  he  had  pitched  his  tent  on  the  cold, 
damp  ground,  and  slept  beneath  the  moonlit  sky. 
He  had  passed  days  together  without  sufficient  food ; 
had  breasted  the  storm  of  battle,  and  stood  un- 
daunted and  unmoved  amid  its  leaden  hail.  The 
quick,  discerning  eye  of  Bishop  Asbury  detected  in 
these  men  the  qualifications  requisite  for  a  life  of 
toil,  of  sacrifice,  of  suffering;  and  their  deep  devo- 
tion to  their  Heavenly  Master's  cause  eminently 
fitted  them  to  become  pioneer  preachers  in  this  far- 
off"  Western  country.  Theirs  was  a  noble  design. 
It  was  not  to  engage  in  speculation,  or  to  seek 
for  worldly  opulence.  !N"o;  they  were  impelled  by 
higher  motives.     Men  were  perishing,  and  they 


24  METHODISM 

came  to  snatch  them  from  ruin.  They  came  to 
establish  a  system  whose  purpose  it  is  to  recover 
man  from  sin;  to  elevate  him,  morally  and  socially; 
and  when  dying,  to  kneel  beside  his  pillow,  and 
point  his  fading  eyes  to  the  "land  afar  off." 

Messrs.  Haw  and  Ogden  were  preceded  by  the 
Eev.  Francis  Clark,  a  local  preacher  from  Virginia. 
He  emigrated  to  Kentucky  in  1783,  and  settled  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Danville.*    "He  was  a  man  of 
sound  judgment,  and  well  instructed  in  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Methodist  Church.     As  a  preacher  he 
was  successful,  and  was  made  the  instrument  of 
forming  several  societies,  and  lived  many  years  to 
rejoice  in  the  success  of  the  cause  that  he  had  been 
the  instrument,  under  God,  of  commencing  in  the 
wilderness.    He  died  at  his  own  domicile  in  the  fall 
of  1799,  in  great  peace,  and  in  hope  of  a  blessed 
immortality.    Kev.  "William  J.  Thompson  also  emi- 
grated at  an  early  day  from  Stokes  county,  iNorth 
Carolina,  and  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood. 
He  became  also  a  useful  auxiliary,  and  preached 
with  acceptance  and  success.     He  afterward  joined 
the   traveling    connection    in    the   Western    Con- 
ference;   and  when   he    moved   to    the   State   of 
Ohio,  became   connected  with   the    Ohio  Confer- 
ence,  where   his   labors   and   usefulness   are   held 
in   remembrance   b}^  many.     The   next  preachers 
that  came  to  the  country  were  ISTathanael  Harris, 
from  Virginia;    Gabriel    and    Daniel   Woodfield, 
from    the    Redstone    country.     Harris   settled   in 


*  Ptccollections  of  the  West,  p.  10. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  25 

Jessamine  county,  and  the  IVoodfiekls  in  Fayette 
county;   and,  not  long  after,  Philip  Taylor,  from 
Virginia,  settled  in  Jessamine  county.     These  were 
considered  a  great  acquisition  to  the  infant  societies. 
]N'athanael  Harris  and  Gabriel  TVoodfield  were  among 
the  first  order  of  local  preachers,  and  they  were 
highly  esteemed  and  labored  with  success.     They 
have  been  connected  with  the  itinerancy,  and  labored 
in  that  relation  with  acceptance.     Gabriel  Wood- 
field  afterward  settled  in  Henry  county,  but,  before 
his  death,  removed  to  Indiana,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Madison,  where  he  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and 
died  in  peace  among  his  friends  and  connections. 
Kathanael  Harris  still  lives,*  at  the  age  of  nearly 
fourscore  years.     Joseph  Ferguson,  a  local  preacher 
from  Fairfax  county,  Virginia,  moved  to  Kentucky 
at  an  early  time,  and  settled  in  ITelson  county,  and 
was  among  the  first  preachers  that  settled  in  that 
section  of  the  country.     He  was  an  amiable  man, 
possessed  of  good  preaching  talents,  and  was  ren- 
dered very  useful.    He  was  highly  esteemed,  blessed 
with  an  amiable  family;  and  his  house  was  a  home 
for  the  traveling  preachers,  who  were  at  all  times 
welcome  guests.     Brother  Ferguson  was  subject  at 
times  to  great  depression  of  mind ;  but  when  in  the 
company  of  the  traveling  preachers  he  was  always 
cheerful  and  happy.     He  lived  to  a  good  old  age  at 
the  place  where  he  first  settled,  and  died  in  peace 
and  in  the  triumphs  of  that  gospel  which  he  had 
proclaimed  for  many  years.     Ferguson's  Meeting- 

*  He  died  August  12,  1849. 


26  M  E  T  H  0  D  I  S  M 

house  was  one  of  the  first  that  was  built  in  that 
part  of  the  countrj^,  and  at  one  time  there  was  a 
large  society  at  that  meeting-house;  and  when  I 
Avas  last  in  the  neighborhood,  in  the  fall  of  1811, 
they  still  maintained  a  respectable  standing."  * 

Among  the  local  preachers  whose  names  we  have 
mentioned,  that  of  Francis  Clark  stands  preeminent 
as  the  founder  of  Methodism  in  Kentucky.  As 
early  as  1783,t  accompanied  by  John  Durham,  a 
class-leader,  and  others  of  his  neighbors,  with  their 
families,  he  left  Virginia,  and  settled  in  Mercer 
county.  He  immediately  organized  a  class,  the  first 
in  the  far  "West,  about  six  miles  west  from  w^here 
Danville  now  stands. J  An  impression  has  obtained 
that  the  first  Methodist  organization  in  the  District 
was  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Stevenson,  in  Mason 

■^The  Rev.  Wm.  Burke,  in  Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,  pp. 
62,  63.— The  following  letter  from  the  Rev.  T.  F.  Vanmeter  will 
explain  the  present  condition  of  this  society : 

"  In  answer  to  your  inquiry,  I  would  state  that  '  Ferguson's 
Chapel'  was  originally  built  in  the  Poplar  Flat  neighborhood,  about 
six  miles  east  of  Bardstown,  Nelson  county,  Kentucky,  The  first 
building  was  a  round-log,  with  clapboard  roof.  I  cannot  ascertain 
the  date  when  this  building  was  erected.  It  remained  a  long  time, 
and  became  so  much  dilapidated  that  it  could  not  be  used,  and  was 
displaced  by  a  hewed-log  building  in  1822,  about  fifty  yards  west 
of  the  former  building.  In  1844,  a  handsome  brick  was  erected  about 
fifty  yards  farther  west,  where  the  society  now  worship,  making 
about  one  hundred  yards  from  where  the  Poplar  Flat  Church  now 
stands  to  the  original  Ferguson's  Chapel.  The  society  now  numbers 
about  seventy  members — a  thriving,  spiritual  Churcli,  in  the  bounds 
of  the  Bloomfield  Circuit,  Kentucky  Conference." 

f  Recollections  of  tlie  West,  p.  10. 

I  Rev.  J.  F.  Wright,  Western  Christian  Advocate,  March  7,  1866. 
Mr.  Wright  fixes  the  date,  however,  one  year  later. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  27 

county,  under  the  supervision  of  Benjamin  Ogclen.* 
The  emigration  of  Mr.  Clark,  as  previously  stated, 
was  three  years  in  advance  of  the  appointment  of 
Mr.  Ogden  to  the  District.  It  is  also  an  interesting 
fact  that  the  society  formed  by  Mr.  Clark  dates  one 
year  prior  to  the  Christmas  Conference,  when  the 
organization  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
America  took  place.  As  early  as  1784,  Mrs.  Mary 
Davis  joined  this  society,  under  Francis  Clark;  and 
in  1859,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-seven,  sweetly 
fell  asleep,  full  of  faith  and  of  hope,  at  the  residence 
of  her  son-in-law,  Lazarus  Powell,  senior,  in  Hen- 
derson county,  Kentucky,  having  been  for  seventy- 
five  years  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. f 

Previous  to  the  appointment  of  Messrs.  Haw  and 
Ogden,  several  families  who  had  been  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church  in  Maryland  and  Virginia, 
"tired  of  cultivating  the  flinty  fields  and  unpro- 
ductive soil  of  their  native  States,  where,  under  the 
most  favorable  circumstances,  the  utmost  that  could 
be  hoped  for,  as  the  result  of  the  most  energetic 
and  unremitted  attentions,  was  a  bare  subsistence, 
determined  to  wend  their  w^ay  to  the  'far-off  West,' 
concerning  which  they  had  heard  so  many  glowing 
descriptions  and  thrilling  accounts."  Among  these 
early  Methodist  pioneers,  w^ere  Mr.  Thomas  Steven- 
son and  his  wife,  from  the  State  of  Maryland,  who 
were  among  the  first  converts  to  Methodism  on  the 
American  Continent.     They  settled  two  and  a  half 

-^-Collins's  Kentucky,  p.  124. 

f  Mrs.  Davis  was  the  paternal  grandmotlier  of  the  wife  of  the 
author. 


28  METHODISM 

miles  sonth-west  of  Wasliington,  in  the  count}'  of 
Mason.* 

It  was  in  the  hitter  part  of  the  summer  of  1786 
when  Messrs.  Haw  and  Ogden  arrived  in  the  Dis- 
trict of  Kentucky.  One  of  the  first  families  that 
bade  them  welcome  to  their  cottage  home  was  that 
of  Thomas  Stevenson.  At  Mr.  Ogden's  first  visit 
to  the  house,  immediately  on  his  reaching  Ken- 
tucky, "he  remained  for  several  days,  preaching  to 
the  people  by  night,  and  visiting  and  praying  with 
the  families  by  day,  while  his  labors  were  duly  ap- 
preciated by  all  in  the  garrison."  From  this  date  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1829,  the 
house  of  Mr.  Stevenson  was  "a  regular  preaching- 
place,"  as  well  as  "a  constant  home  for  the  traveling 
ministry  of  the  Methodist  Connection." 

The  Kev.  Dr.  Stevenson,  in  his  "Fragments  from 
the  Sketch-book  of  an  Itinerant,"  published  in  the 
Christian  Advocate  (Nashville),  October  30,  1856, 
says:  "Mr.  Collins,  in  his  deservedly  popular  and 
well-written  History  of  Kentucky,  has  represented, 
on  the  authority  of  some  one,  that  the  first  Metho- 
dist society  or  Church  was  organized  in  my  father's 
house.  I  am  not  prepared  to  endorse  the  entire  cor- 
rectness of  this  statement.  That  such  a  class  was 
associated  together  in  his  little  apartment,  while 
living  in  Kenton's  Station,  in  1786,  by  Mr.  Ogden, 
is  certain;  but  whether  this  was  the  first  he  formed 

*  They  were  the  parents  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stevenson,  who  recently 
died,  a  member  of  the  Louisville  Conference.  Mrs.  Stevenson  joined 
the  Methodists,  under  Robert  Strawbridge,  in  17G8;  Thomas  Steven- 
eon  about  ten  years  later. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  29 

ill  the  coantiy,  I  have  no  data  on  which  to  affirm  or 
deny.  It  may  not,  however,  be  improper  to  remark 
that  the  first  prayer  that  was  ever  presented  to  the 
throne  of  the  heavenly  grace,  at  a  family  altar  in 
the  District  of  Kentucky,  by  a  Methodist  preacher, 
was  in  my  father's  cottage,  in  the  station  above 
named,  Benjamin  Ogden  officiating."  When  the 
author  of  the  History  of  Kentucky  says,  "  The  first 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  organized  in  Kentucky 
was  in  the  cabin  of  Thomas  Stevenson,  in  Mason 
count}^,  by  Benjamin  Ogden,  some  time  during  the 
year  1786,"  he  can  only  mean  that  no  organization 
previous  to  this  year  was  recognized  in  the  printed 
Minutes  of  the  Church.  And  when  Dr.  Stevenson 
affirms  that  the  first  prayer  ever  presented  to  the 
throne  of  the  heavenly  grace,  at  a  family  altar  in 
the  District  of  Kentucky,  by  a  Methodist  preacher, 
was  in  his  father's  cottage,  Benjamin  Ogden  officia- 
ting, he  only  refers  to  the  prayers  offered  by  the 
missionaries.  Three  years  before,  we  have  seen  a 
docal  preacher  leaving  Virginia,  and  not  only  as  a 
settler  of  the  soil,  but  as  a  pioneer  of  his  faith,  seek- 
ing a  home  in  the  wilderness  of  Kentucky.  In  his 
house  he  erects  an  altar  to  God,  and  in  early  morn 
and  at  close  of  day  he  offers  prayers  to  the  Most 
High,  commending  his  household  to  Heaven. 

A  writer  *  familiar  with  the  times  and  the  labors 
of  these  men,  says,  "They  came  fired  with  holy  zeal 
and  deeply  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  their  mission. 
They  commenced  their  labors  in  earnest  and  with 

*  Rev.  Lewis  Garrett, 


30  METHODISM 

good  effect.  Soon  it  was  rumored  the  false  prophets 
are  come,  and  some  were  ready  to  say,  Hhey  that 
turn  the  world  upside  down  are  come  hither  also.' 
But  these  alarms  and  prejudices,  the  effects  of  big- 
otry, were  soon  overcome  by  the  influence  of  ardent 
piety  and  holy  zeal.  A  mighty  revival  of  religion 
commenced,  and  the  flame  spread  like  *  fire  in  dry 
stubble!'  These  missionaries  were  in  quest  of 
souls,  and  were  never  out  of  their  way  where  souls 
and  families  were  to  be  found.  Vivid  in  my  recol- 
lections are  their  first  visits  to  the  dwelling  of  my 
widowed  mother.  A  word  of  pathetic  exhortation 
was  addressed  to  each  individual,  an  ardent  prayer, 
whether  they  tarried  all  night  or  made  a  call  in  the 
day-time.  Their  preaching  was  characterized  by 
simplicity  and  earnestness.  Ardent  in  their  devo- 
tions, and  with  a  zeal  commensurate  with  the 
importance  of  their  mission,  they  carried  with  them 
the  unction  of  the  Holy  One.  They  had  but  few 
books,  but  these  they  studied  thoroughly.  They 
were  Bible  students,  and  being  ^not  conformed  to 
this  world'  in  their  dress,  they  had  room  in  their 
pockets  for  a  small  Bible,  which  they  often  con- 
sulted, and  sought  carefully  to  bring  out  of  that 
treasury  Hhings  new  and  old.'  Here  they  found 
true  philosophy  and  the  wisdom  that  speaks  to  the 
heart.  To  tickle  the  ear  or  delight  the  fancy  with 
fine-spun  theories  or  the  flowers  of  rhetoric,  was 
foreign  to  their  purpose.  They  were  indeed  elo- 
quent in  the  most  essential  sense,  in  virtue  of  the 
inspiration  of  that  gospel  which  they  preached, 
*not  in  the  words  which  man's  wisdom  teacheth, 


IN     KENTUCKY.  31 

but  which  the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth,  in  demonstra- 
tion of  the  Spirit  and  with  power.'" 

A  later  writer  says:  "They  were  men  of  great 
piety  and  zeal,  and  God  owned  their  labors."* 
Sometimes  guarded  by  friends  as  they  traveled 
from  fort  to  fort,  but  oftener  alone,  continually  ex- 
posed to  danger,  "they  counted  not  their  lives 
dear,"  if  they  could  only  win  souls  to  Christ. 

Such  is  the  testimony  concerning  these  men. 
Familiar  with  the  Bible,  they  understood  the  duties 
it  inculcates;  its  doctrines;  its  "exceeding  great 
and  precious  promises,"  as  well  as  its  threatenings 
against  sin;  and,  " like  a  workman  that  needeth  not 
to  be  ashamed,"  whenever  they  hurled  the  javelin 
of  truth  it  reached  the  object  and  "accomplished 
the  purpose  whereunto  it  was  sent."  It  is  said  that 
Mr.  Haw  "was  a  man  of  much  zeal,  bordering  on 
enthusiasm,"  and  that  "he  devoted  his  whole  soul 
to  the  work." 

Dr.  Bascom,  afterward  Bishop  Bascom,  in  a  pri- 
vate letter  to  a  friend, f  referring  to  the  early  Meth- 
odist preachers  of  Kentucky,  said  "they  labored, 
suffered,  triumphed,  in  obscurity  and  want.  'No 
admiring  populace  to  cheer  them  on;  no  feverish 
community  gazetted  them  into  fame.  Principle 
alone  sustained  them,  and  their  glory  was  that  of 
action." 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  records  of  the 
Church  for  this  period  are  so  defective,  and  that  we 
are  enabled  to  learn  so  little  of  their  labors.     And 

^  Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper.  f  Rev.  Lewis  Garrett. 


32  METHODISM 

yet  it  is  a  cause  for  gratitude  that  enough  is  left  us, 
by  which  we  may  form  a  proper  estimate  of  their 
characters,  their  worth,  their  sacrifices,  and  their 
spirit  of  adventure. 

At  the  ensuing  Conference,  the  printed  Minutes 
show  a  membership  of  ninety  in  Kentucky.  When 
we  consider  the  sparseness  of  the  population,  the 
character  of  the  people,  and  the  opposition  with 
which  Methodism  has  everywhere  met,  in  its  intro- 
duction into  any  new  section,  their  success  was 
truly  remarkable.  It  was  not,  however,  the  imme- 
diate results  of  their  labors,  as  they  appear  in  the 
Minutes,  that  chiefly  claim  our  gratitude.  True,  in 
this  is  cause  for  much  thanksgiving  to  God.  In 
addition  to  this,  here  was  the  incipiency  of  a  system 
whose  developments  were  to  be  seen  in  coming  time. 
They  were  laying  the  foundations  of  an  edifice 
within  whose  holy  courts  thousands  should  in  after 
ages  kneel  and  worship  God.  They  were  sowing 
seeds  whose  fruitage  should  be  abundant  when 
"they  had  slept  with  the  fathers."  Hence  their 
labors  were  constant,  and  owned  and  blessed  of 
God.  Among  the  first-fruits  of  their  labors  was 
Mrs.  Jane  Stamper,  afterward  the  mother  of  the 
Eev.  Jonathan  Stamper,  who,  in  later  times,  by  his 
eloquence,  his  power,  and  his  untiring  devotion  to 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  contributed  so  largely  to 
the  promotion  of  Methodism  in  Kentucky.  He  was 
"a  burning  and  a  shining  light."  Mrs.  Stamper* 
had  been  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  but 

*  Home  Circlo,  Vol.  I.,  p.  108. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  33 

a  stranger  to  the  doctrine  of  the  new  birth.  Messrs. 
Haw  and  Ogden  visited  the  neighborhood,  in  Mad- 
ison county,  in  which  she  resided.  She  waited  upon 
their  ministry,  and,  under  the  first  sermon  she  heard, 
she  was  awakened,  and  immediately  sought  and 
found  Christ  in  the  forgiveness  of  her  sins.  She 
joined  the  Methodist  Church,  and,  after  a  pilgrim- 
age of  forty  years,  she  passed  away  in  Christian 
triumph,  exchanging  the  sorrows  of  earth  for  the 
joys  of  heaven. 

VOL.  I. — 2 


34  METHODISM 


CHAPTER   II. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1787  TO  THE  CONFERENCE 

OF  1789. 

Kentucky  Circuit  —  James  Haw  —  Cumberland  Circuit  —  Benjamin 
Ogden  —  Wilson  Lee  —  Thomas  Williamson  —  Kentucky  Circuit 
divided  —  Francis  Poythress  —  Devereaux  Jarrat — Peter  Massie — 
Benjamin  Snelling  —  Local  preachers. 

In  1787,  the  work  in  the  West  was  divided  into 
two  circuits,  one  of  which  still  bore  the  name  of 
Kentucky,  and  to  which  James  Haw  was  returned. 
Thomas  Williamson  and  Wilson  Lee  were  appointed 
his  colleagues.  The  other  was  called  Cumberland, 
to  which  Benjamin  Ogden  was  appointed,  where, 
after  laboring  one  year,  he  located.  The  Cum- 
berland Circuit  embraced  the  country  now  known 
as  Middle  Tennessee,  and  a  small  portion  of 
Southern  Kentucky.  The  Kentucky  Circuit  in- 
cluded the  whole  of  the  District  of  Kentucky,  except 
that  part  embraced  in  the  Cumberland.  In  that 
early  day  it  was  not  common  to  continue  the  same 
preacher  for  more  than  one  year  in  the  same  terri- 
tory. It  was,  however,  proper,  in  an  eminent 
degree,  to  return  to  this  Western  field  the  noble 
men  who  had  iirst  planted  Methodism  upon  its  soil. 
They  had  learned  the  habits  of  its  rude  population; 
had   slept  beneath  its   skies,   on  the   cold,  damp 


IN     KENTUCKY.  35 

ground;  had  become  familiar  with  its  dim  and 
unfrequented  paths;  they  enjoyed  the  confidence 
of  the  people,  and  had  achieved  success  in  their 
ministry;  yet  the  growing  interest  of  the  Church 
demanded  an  accession  to  the  ministerial  strength. 
Thomas  "Williamson  was  admitted  on  trial  in 
1785,  and  had  traveled  successively  the  Yadkin  and 
Salisbury  Circuits,  in  North  Carolina.  Wilson  Lee 
preceded  him  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  one  year, 
and  had  traveled  on  the  Alleghany  Circuit,  in  Vir- 
ginia; the  Redstone,  in  Pennsylvania;  and  the 
Talbot,  in  Maryland.  For  piet}^,  zeal,  and  devotion 
to  the  cause  of  Christ,  these  men  enjoyed  an  envi- 
able reputation.  In  the  fields  of  labor  they  had 
previously  occupied,  they  were  eminently  suc- 
cessful. "Wilson  Lee,  the  former  year,  had  been 
assistant  to  Richard  Whatcoat,  afterward  Bishop 
"Whatcoat,  and  enjoyed  to  the  fullest  extent  the  con- 
fidence of  that  great  man.  He  was  twenty-six  years 
of  age,  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  the  strength  of 
manhood,  when  he  came  to  Kentucky.  His  early 
advantages  were  of  a  superior  character.  Reared 
in  the  midst  of  refinement,  and  surrounded  with  the 
luxuries  of  life,  his  manners  polished,  and  possessing 
talents  of  a  high  order,  he  might  have  achieved 
eminence  in  any  profession.  But  God  had  called 
him  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and,  following  the 
voice  of  duty,  he  cheerfully  obeyed  the  summons. 
At  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  embraced  religion, 
and,  in  the  morning  of  life,  entered  the  ministry. 
Familiar  with  the  teachings  of  Christianity,  his 
address  handsome,  a  well-trained  and  pleasant  voice, 


36  METHODISM 

and  with  a  zeal  commensurate  with  the  importance 
of  the  work  to  which  he  had  been  called — added 
to  all  this,  he  was  truly  devout,  and  an  excellent 
singer — his  preaching  was  "with  the  demonstra- 
tion of  the  Spirit  and  with  power."  "Whether  in 
his  vindication  of  the  great  truths  of  Christianity, 
or  in  the  tremendous  appeals  he  made  to  the  con- 
science, the  effect  was  overwhelming.  Success 
crowned  his  labors,  and  through  his  instrumentality 
many  were  converted  to  God. 

Thomas  Williamson  was  also  a  young  man  of  su- 
perior talents,  as  well  as  of  prepossessing  manners. 
He  was  an  excellent  preacher.  In  the  pulpit  he 
commanded  not  only  the  respect,  but  the  admiration 
of  his  hearers,  and  in  the  social  circle  he  was  re- 
markably popular.  Such  were  the  men  who  were 
appointed  assistants  to  James  Haw. 

Il^otwithstanding  the  depredations  that  were  so 
frequently  committed  by  the  Indians,  the  District 
of  Kentuckj^  at  this  time,  was  populating  with 
astonishing  rapidity.  The  want  of  the  ordinary 
comforts  of  life,  and  the  dreadful  massacres  perpe- 
trated on  the  frontier,  were  sufficient  to  have  ar- 
rested the  tide  of  immigration ;  yet  from  Virginia, 
as  well  as  from  other  sections  of  the  country,  fami- 
lies came  in  until  the  settlements,  in  some  parts, 
w^ere  becoming  dense.  Undaunted  by  danger,  these 
devoted  missionaries  went  from  fort  to  fort  in  the 
accomplishment  of  their  great  work.  They  *'  count- 
ed not  their  lives  dear,"  but  risked  all  for  Christ 
and  the  Church.  Men  wore  perishing,  and  they 
desired  to  save  them.     They  had  left  the  comforts 


INKENTUCKY.  87 

of  home  with  no  other  purpose  but  to  preach  the 
gospel  of  Christ,  and  with  commendable  zeal  they 
prosecuted  their  calling,  and  w^ere  successful.  At 
the  close  of  the  year,  they  returned  four  hundred  and 
eighty  members,* 

The  Conference  of  1788  was  held  in  Baltimore, 
September  10th,  at  w^hich  time  the  Kentucky  Cir- 
cuit was  divided,  and  from  it  w^ere  formed  the  Lex- 
ington and  Danville  Circuits.  Six  preachers  were 
sent  to  cultivate  these  fields.  The  appointments 
were:  Francis  Poythress  and  James  Haw,  Presid- 
ing Elders  ;t  Lexington — Thomas  Williamson,  Peter 
Massie,  Benjamin  Snelling;  Danville — Wilson  Lee. J 

The  name  of  Francis  Poythress  appears  for  the 
first  time  in  the  Minutes  of  1776.  His  first  ap- 
pointment was  to  Caroline  Circuit.  In  1777,  his 
name  does  not  appear  in  the  Minutes.  Whether  he 
had  been  compelled  to  desist  from  traveling  in  con- 
sequence of  feeble  health,  or  whether  his  name  is 
omitted  by  mistake,  we  have  no  means  of  ascer- 
taining.§  In  1778,  his  name  reappears,  and  he  is 
appointed  to  Hanover  Circuit,  in  Virginia,  and  then 
successively  filled  the  Sussex  Circuit,  in  Virginia; 
the  New  Hope,  in  North  Carolina ;  the  Fairfax,  in 
Virginia ;  the  Talbot,  in  Maryland ;  the  Alleghany, 
in  Virginia;   and   the   Calvert  and   Baltimore,  in 

*  Cumberland  Circuit  not  included  in  these  figures, 

f  The  term  "Presiding"  does  not  occur  in  the  Minutes  until  1789, 
and  is  again  dropped  until  1797. 

X  Poythress  presided  over  Lexington  and  Danville,  and  Haw  over 
Cumberland, 

I  The  early  Minutes  abound  in  errors  and  omissions. 


38  METHODISM 

Maryland.  In  1786,  he  was  appointed  Presiding 
Elder  over  Brunswick,  Sussex,  and  Amelia  Circuits, 
in  Virginia;  and  in  1787,  over  Guilford,  Halifixx, 
New  Hope,  and  Caswell  Circuits,  in  North  Caro- 
lina. The  important  fields  he  had  occupied  evinced 
the  high  regard  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  Church, 
and  the  extraordinary  success  that  had  attended  his 
labors  was,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  the  result  of 
that  zeal  and  devotion  that  ever  afterward  distin- 
guished him,  so  long  as  he  was  able  to  lift  the 
ensign  of  the  cross.  When  appointed  to  Kentucky, 
he  had  reached  the  meridian  of  life.  He  was  in  the 
forty-fourth  year  of  his  age.  "He  was  a  Virginian 
of  large  estate,  but  of  dissipated  habits  in  his  youth. 
The  conversations  and  rebukes  of  a  lady  in  high 
social  position  arrested  him  in  his  perilous  course. 
He  returned  from  her  house  confounded,  penitent, 
and  determined  to  reform  his  morals.  He  betook 
himself  to  his  neglected  Bible,  and  soon  saw  that 
his  only  effectual  reformation  could  be  by  a  reli- 
gious life.  He  searched  for  a  competent  living 
guide,  but  such  was  the  condition  of  the  English 
Church  around  him  that  he  could  find  none.  Hear- 
ing at  last  of  the  devoted  Jarrat,*  he  hastened  to 
his  parish,  and  was  entertained  some  time  under  his 
hospitable  roof  for  instruction.  There  he  found 
purification  and  peace  about  the  year  1772.  It  was 
not  long  before  he  began  to  cooperate  with  Jarrat 
in  his  public  labors  amid  the  extraordinary  scenes 
of  religious  interest  which  prevailed  through   all 

*  Jarrat  was  a  clergyman  of  the  Cliurch  of  England. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  39 

that  region.  Thus,  before  the  arrival  of  the  Meth- 
odist itinerants  in  Virginia,  he  had  become  an 
evangelist:  when  they  appeared,  he  learned  with 
delight  their  doctrines  and  methods  of  labor,  and, 
joining  them,  became  a  giant  in  their  ranks.  In 
1775,  he  began  his  travels,  under  the  authority  of  a 
Quarterly  Meeting  of  Brunswick  Circuit,  and,  the 
present  year,  appears  for  the  first  time  on  the  roll 
of  the  Conference.*  Henceforth,  in  ITorth  Caro- 
lina, Virginia,  Maryland,  and  Kentucky,  he  was  to 
be  a  representative  man  of  the  struggling  cause. 
In  1783,  he  bore  its  standard  across  the  AUeghanies 
to  the  waters  of  the  Youghiogheny.  From  1786,  he 
served  it  with  preeminent  success  for  twelve  years, 
as  a  Presiding  Elder.  Asbury  nominated  him  for 
the  Episcopate.  'From  the  first,'  says  one  of  the 
best  antiquarian  authorities  of  the  Church,t  'he 
performed  all  the  work  of  a  Methodist  preacher 
with  fidelity  and  success,  and  for  twenty-six  years 
his  name  appears  without  a  blot  upon  the  oflicial 
records  of  the  Church  among  his  brethren.'  Dur- 
ing the  time,  he  filled  every  oflace,  except  that  of 
{Superintendent,  and  w^as  designated  for  that  place 
by  Bishop  Asbury,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Con- 
ference at  "Wilbraham,  1797.  The  preachers  re- 
fused to  comply  wath  the  request,  simply  upon  the 
ground  that  it  was  not  competent  in  a  yearly  Con- 
ference to  elect  Bishops.  Poythress,  in  a  word, 
was  to  Methodism  generally,  and  to  the  South-west 
particularly,  what  Jesse  Lee  was  to  New  England — 

*1776.  t Rev.  G.Scott. 


40  METHODISM 

an  apostle.  His  name  stands  in  the  Minutes  of 
1802  for  the  last  time,  among  the  Elders,  bnt  with- 
out an  appointment,  after  which  it  disappears,  and 
we  hear  no  more  of  him,  until  we  are  roused  from 
our  anxious  thoughts  concerning  his  probable  fate 
b3^the  startling  announcement  of  Bishop  Asburj."* 
The  announcement  referred  to  is  found  in  Asbury's 
Journal.  While  traveling  through  Kentucky  in 
1810,  on  Monday,  the  15th  day  of  October,  he  says: 
"This  day  has  been  an  awful  day  to  me.  I  visited 
Francis  Poythress,  if  thou  be  he ;  but  0 !  how 
fallen  ! "  f     He  had  become  insane. 

In  his  Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,  Mr.  Fin- 
ley  says:{  "In  the  year  1800,  he  w^as  sent  to  a  Dis- 
trict in  North  Carolina,  embracing  fifteen  circuits. 
His  removal  to  a  new  field,  among  strangers,  and  the 
subjection,  if  possible,  to  greater  hardships  than  he 
had  endured  in  his  former  fields,  without  a  companion 
save  the  companionship  w^hich  he  gained  at  differ- 
ent and  distant  points  among  his  brethren,  preyed 
heavily  upon  his  system,  shattering  his  nerves,  and 
making  fearful  inroads  upon  a  mind  naturally  of  a  too 
contemplative,  if  not  somber  cast ;  and  seasons  of 
gloom  and  darkness  gathered  around  him.  He  should 
at  once  have  desisted,  and  sought  that  rest  and  society 
for  which  he  so  much  longed,  among  the  friends  and 
companions  of  his  youth ;  but,  alas !  the  necessity 
that  rested  in  those  days  upon  a  Methodist  preacher, 
stern  as  fate,  kept  him  at  his  post,  and  he  toiled  on 


♦Stevens's  History  M.  E.  Church,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  23,  24. 

t  Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III.,  p.  349.  J  P.  131. 


INKENTUCKY.  41 

till  his  shattered  frame,  like  the  broken  strings  of  a 
harp,  could  only  sigh  to  the  winds  that  swept  through 
it;  and  his  mind,  in  deep  sympathy  with  his  frame, 
became  alike  shattered  and  deranged.  The  next 
year  he  came  back  to  Kentucky,  but  the  light  of  the 
temple  was  gone,  and  the  eye  which  shot  the  fires 
of  genius  and  intelligence,  now  wildly  stared  upon 
the  face  of  old,  loving,  long-tried  friends,  as  though 
they  were  strangers.  Here  he  remained  till  death 
released  him  and  sent  his  spirit  home.  Poor  Poy- 
thress !  Bravely  didst  thou  toil  and  endure  hard- 
ness on  the  well -fought  field.  A  campaign  of 
twenty-four  years  of  incessant  toil  in  the  gloomy 
wilds  of  the  West,  away  from  friends  and  loved  ones 
at  home,  proved  too  much  for  thy  nature  to  bear. 
But  thou  art  gone  where  the  wicked  cease  to 
trouble,  and  the  weary  are  at  rest." 

The  Kev.  Thomas  Scott,  a  cotemporary,  as  well  as 
the  intimate  personal  friend  of  Mr.  Poythress,  says: 
"  He  was,  if  we  rightly  remember,  about  five  feet 
eight  or  nine  inches  in  height,  and  heavily  built. 
His  muscles  were  large,  and  when  in  the  prime  of 
life,  we  presume  he  w^as  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
muscular  strength.  He  dressed  plain  and  neat. 
When  we  first  saw  him,  we  suppose  he  had  passed 
his  sixtieth  year.  His  muscles  were  quite  flaccid, 
eyes  sunken  in  his  head,  hair  gray,  turned  back, 
hanging  down  on  his  shoulders,  complexion  dark, 
and  countenance  grave,  inclining  to  melancholy."* 
He  again  says:  ^'  Early  in  the  year  1797,  he  was  con- 

*  Western  Methodism,  p.  137. 


42  METHODISM 

fined  by  affliction ;  but  whether  his  mind  was 
affected  during  his  affliction  we  are  entirely  unin- 
formed. The  last  time  we  saw  him,  was  in  the 
winter  of  1800.  The  balance  of  his  mind  w^as  lost, 
and  his  body  lay  a  complete  wTCck.  His  labors  in 
the  Church  militant  were  at  an  end,  but  the  fruits  of 
his  labors  still  remain.  We  are  not  aware  that  any 
hereditary  taint  existed,  which  in  its  ultimate  range 
dethroned  his  reason;  but  w^e  can  readily  imagine 
that  the  seeds  of  that  dreadful  malady  were  sown  in 
his  system  by  the  constant  exposure  and  suffering 
during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  twelve 
years  he  traveled  and  preached  in  the  then  almost 
wilderness  of  the  West.  Among  the  eight  pioneers 
of  Methodism  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  in  the 
year  1788,  the  name  of  Francis  Poythress  stands  pre- 
eminent. By  those  intrepid  heroes  of  the  cross  the 
foundation  of  Methodism  was  laid  in  those  States, 
on  which  others  have  since  built,  and  others  are  now 
building.  Their  names  ought  to  be  held  in  grate- 
ful remembrance  by  all  who  love  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  in  sincerity  and  truth ;  but  among  all,  we 
are  inclined  to  the  opinion,  there  is  not  one  of  them 
to  whom  the  members  of  our  Church,  in  those 
States,  owe  a  greater  debt  of  gratitude  than  to 
Francis  Poythress."*  In  devoting  so  much  space  to 
Francis  Poythress,  we  have  done  so,  because  he  was 
more  intimately  identified  with  the  rise  and  progress 
of  Methodism  in  Kentucky  than  any  other  minister. 
For  ten  consecutive  years  he   had  charge  of  the 

*  Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,  p.  141, 


IN     KENTUCKY.  43 

Kentucky  District,  and,  in  the  absence  of  Bishop 
Asbury,  presided  over  the  Annual  Conferences. 
"Grave  in  his  deportment,  chaste  in  his  conver- 
sation, constant  in  his  private  devotions,  and  faithful 
in  the  discharge  of  his  ministerial  duties,"  he  exerted 
an  influence  for  Methodism,  and  contributed  to  its 
success  in  Kentucky,  to  an  extent  that  can  be 
claimed  for  no  other  man.  When  we  recount  his 
excessive  and  constant  labors  through  tv^enty-four 
years,  having  "  never  been  known  to  disappoint 
a  congregation,  unless  prevented  by  sickness  or 
disease,"  with  the  w^eight  of  so  many  Churches 
resting  upon  him,  we  are  not  surprised  that  his 
physical  strength  should  have  given  way;  and  to 
the  Church  it  is  a  cause  for  gratitude  to  God,  that 
his  noble  intellect  did  not  become  impaired  in  the 
morn  or  noon  of  his  life.  It  was  not  until  he  had 
entered  "  its  sere  and  yellow  leaf"  that  he  gave  any 
indications  of  the  overthrow  of  his  reason.  The  last 
years  of  his  life  were  spent  wdth  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Susanna  Pryor,  twelve  miles  south  of  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  w^here,  in  1818,  he  passed  away. 

Peter  Massie  was  among  the  first-fruits  of  Method- 
ism in  Kentucky.*  He  entered  the  itinerant  work 
this  year,  after  having  long  resisted  his  convictions 
on  this  subject;  but  when  he  yielded,  he  gave  him- 
self wholly  to  the  work.  He  was  a  young  man 
of  "good  personal  appearance,"  but  of  delicate  con- 
stitution. Living  in  close  communion  w^ith  God, 
deeply  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  his  mission,  wholly 

*  AVestern  Methodism,  p.  67. 


44  METHODISM 

consecrated  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  edu- 
cated amid  the  dangers  of  the  wilderness,  he  gave 
great  promise  of  usefulness  to  the  Church.  His 
manners  pleasant,  his  voice  soft  and  plaintive,  as 
often  as  he  preached,  he  wept  over  the  people, 
and  in  most  touching  strains  invited  them  to  the 
Saviour.  He  was  styled  "the  weeping  prophet." 
One  who  knew  him  well  sa3^s:  "I  heard  him  preach 
the  gospel  frequently,  and  I  do  not  think  I  ever 
heard  him  hut  when  tears  rolled  down  his  manly 
cheeks,  while  he  warned  the  people  to  flee  from  the 
wrath  to  come."* 

Of  Benjamin  Snelling,  who  also  entered  the 
ministry  this  year,  we  know  hut  little.  After  travel- 
ing one  year  on  the  Lexington  Circuit,  we  find  him 
the  second  year  of  his  ministry  on  the  Fairfax  Cir- 
cuit, Virginia.  He  only  remained  in  Virginia  one 
year,  when  he  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  was 
appointed  to  Madison  Circuit.  His  name  the  next 
year  disappears  from  the  Minutes,  probably  by 
location,  though  this  is  not  specified. f  He  settled 
in  Bath  county,  Kentucky,  where  he  finally  died. 

A  very  large  proportion  of  the  first  two  years  in 
Kentucky  was  spent  by  the  missionaries  in  hunting 
up  and  organizing  into  societies  those  members  of 
the  Church  from  other  States,  who  had  preceded 
Messrs.  Haw  and  Ogden  to  the  District.  In  the 
accomplishment  of  this  work  the  local  preachers 
had  been  faithful  auxiliaries;  and  now  to  push  for- 

*  John  Carr,  Christian  Advocate,  Nashville,  February  5,  1S57. 
f  We  have  previously  referred  to  the  want  of  information  that 
m.irks  the  early  Minutes. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  45 

ward  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  they  united  heart 
and  hand  with  their  pious  leaders.  Sacrifice,  toil, 
and  suffering  were  endured,  and  the  local  preachers 
shared  it.  They  shunned  no  hardship,  they  avoided 
no  danger,  hut  anxious  to  save  souls  and  to  assist 
in  planting  Methodism  in  the  land  that  was  to  be 
the  home  of  their  children,  they  labored  by  the  side 
of  Poythress  and  Haw,  Lee,  Williamson,  Snelling, 
and  Massie.  Their  labors  were  crowned  with  suc- 
cess. God  poured  out  his  Holy  Spirit  upon  the 
people.  The  sacred  flame  spread  far  and  wide. 
Hundreds  were  converted  and  added  to  the  Church, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  Conference-year  they  report 
eight  hundred  and  sixty-three  members. 


46  METHODISM 


CHAPTER   III. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1789  TO  THE  CONFERENCE 
OF  1790. 

Interesting  letter  from  James  Haw — Barnabas  McHenry — Stephen 
Brooks — Cumberland  Circuit — James  Haw — James  O'Kelly — In- 
teresting account  of  James  Haw,  by  Learner  Blackman — James 
O'Cull:  his  style  of  preaching  —  Poor  support  of  preachers  — 
Kindness  of  the  Baltimore  Conference. 

In  the  commencement  of  the  year  1789,  James 
Haw  addressed  the  following  letter  to  Bishop  As- 
bury: 

*' Good  news  from  Zion:  the  work  of  God  is 
going  on  rapidly  in  the  new  world ;  a  glorious 
victory  the  Son  of  God  has  gained,  and  he  is 
still  going  on  conquering  and  to  conquer.  Shout, 
ye  angels  !  Hell  trembles  and  heaven  rejoices  daily 
over  sinners  that  repent.  At  a  quarterly  meeting 
held  in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  July  19  and 
20,  1788,  the  Lord  poured  out  his  Spirit  in  a  Avon- 
derful  manner,  first  on  the  Christians,  and  sanctified 
several  of  them  powerfully  and  gloriously,  and,  as  I 
charitably  hope,  wholly.  The  seekers  also  felt  the 
power  and  presence  of  God,  and  cried  for  mercy  as 
at  the  point  of  death.  We  prayed  with  and  for 
them,  till  we  had  reason  to  believe  that  the  Lord 


IN    KENTUCKY.  47 

converted  seventeen  or  eighteen  precious  souls. 
Hallelujah,  praise  ye  the  Lord  ! 

"As  I  went  from  that,  through  the  circuit,  to  an- 
other quarterly  meeting,  the  Lord  converted  two  or 
three  more.  The  Saturday  and  Sunday  following, 
the  Lord  poured  out  his  Spirit  again.  The  work  of 
sanctification  among  the  believers  broke  out  again 
at  t]|e  Lord's  table,  and  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  went 
through  the  assembly  like  a  mighty  rushing  wind. 
Some  fell;  many  cried  for  mercy.  Sighs  and 
groans  proceeded  from  their  hearts  ;  tears  of  sorrow 
for  sin  ran  streaming  down  their  eyes.  Their 
prayers  reached  to  heaven,  and  the  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  entered  into  them  and  filled  fourteen  or  fifteen 
with  peace  and  joy  in  believing.  *  Salvation !  O 
the  joyful  sound !  how  the  echo  flies  ! '  A  few  days 
after,  Brother  Poythress  came,  and  went  with  me  to 
another  quarterly  meeting.  "We  had  another  gra- 
cious season  round  the  Lord's  table,  but  no  remark- 
able stir  till  after  preaching ;  when,  under  several 
exhortations,  some  bursted  out  into  tears,  others 
trembled,  and  some  fell.  I  sprang  in  among  the 
people,  and  the  Lord  converted  one  more  very  pow- 
erfully, w^ho  praised  the  Lord  with  such  acclamation 
of  joy  as  I  trust  will  never  be  forgotten.  The  Sun- 
day following,  I  preached  my  farewell  sermon,  and 
met  the  class,  and  the  Lord  converted  three  more. 
Glory  be  to  his  holy  name  for  ever ! 

"  The  first  round  I  went  on  Cumberland,  the 
Lord  converted  six  precious  souls,  and  I  joined 
three  gracious  Baptists  to  our  Church ;  and  every 
round,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  some  sinners  are 


48  METHODISM 

awakened,  some  seekers  joined  to  society,  and  some 
penitents  converted  to  God.  At  our  Cumberland 
quarterly  meeting,  the  Lord  converted  six  souls  the 
first  day,  and  one  the  next.  Glory,  honor,  praise, 
and  power  be  unto  God  for  ever !  The  work  still 
goes  on.  I  have  joined  two  more  serious  Baptists 
since  the  quarterl}^  meeting.  The  Lord  has  con- 
verted several  more  precious  souls  in  various  i^arts 
of  the  circuit,  and  some  more  have  joined  the 
society,  so  that  we  have  one  hundred  and  twelve 
disciples  now  in  Cumberland — forty-seven  of  whom, 
I  trust,  have  received  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
since  they  believed;  and  I  hope  these  are  but  the 
first  of  a  universal  harvest  which  God  will  give  us 
in  this  country.  Brother  Massie  is  with  me,  going 
on  weeping  over  sinners,  and  the  Lord  blesses  his 
labors.  A  letter  from  Brother  Williamson,  dated 
November  10,  1788,  informs  me  that  the  work  is 
still  going  on  rapidly  in  Kentucky;  that  at  two 
quarterly  meetings  since  I  came  away,  the  Lord 
poured  out  his  Spirit,  and  converted  ten  penitents, 
and  sanctified  five  believers,  at  the  first,  and  twenty 
more  were  converted  at  the  second;  indeed,  the 
wilderness  and  solitary  places  are  glad,  and  the 
desert  rejoices  and  blossoms  as  the  rose,  and,  I  trust, 
will  soon  become  beautiful  as  Tlrza  and  comely  as 
Jerusalem. 

"  What  shall  I  more  say  ?  Time  would  fail  to  tell 
you  all  the  Lord's  doings  among  us.  It  is  mar- 
velous in  our  eyes.  To  him  be  the  glory,  honor, 
praise,  power,  might,  majesty,  and  dominion,  both 
now  and  for  ever !    Amen,  and  amen." 


IN    KENTUCKY.  49 

This  letter  breathes  the  spirit  of  a  minister  of 
Jesus  Christ,  whose  soul  was  wholly  devoted  to  the 
great  work  of  doing  good;  and  it  also  suggests  to 
us  the  firm  hold  that  Methodism,  at  that  early  day, 
was  taking  on  the  hearts  of  the  people.  We  may 
not  be  able  to  appreciate  the  sufierings  and  hard- 
ships endured  by  this  extraordinary  man  and  his 
faithful  colleagues,  in  planting  the  gospel  here,  sur- 
rounded by  savages,  and  their  lives  continually 
exposed ;  but  we  can  admire  the  success  that,  under 
such  embarrassments,  attended  their  labors.  Al- 
ready had  Methodism  reached  every  section  of  the 
inhabited  portion  of  the  District  of  Kentucky,  and 
was  contributing  its  influence,  not  only  in  amelior- 
ating the  condition  of  the  people,  but  in  their  social 
and  moral  elevation. 

At  the  Conference  held  in  1789,  Thomas  Wil- 
liamson— a  man  whose  labors  had  been  so  greatly 
blessed  in  Kentucky — was  removed  to  another  field 
of  ministerial  labor.*  We  take  leave  of  him  for  the 
present,  but  will  meet  him  again,  prosecuting  his 
work  with  a  holy  zeal,  and  winning  trophies  to  the 
Redeemer. 

The  names  of  Barnabas  McHenry  and  Stephen 
Brooks  appear  this  year  in  the  appointments  for 
Kentucky.  Barnabas  McHenry,  the  son  of  John 
McHenry,  was  born  December  6,  1767,  in  the  State 
of  Korth  Carolina.f     When  Barnabas  w^as  about 

*  General  Minutes,  Vol.  I.,  p.  34. 

f  Dr.  Abel  Stevens  says,  in  the  third  volume  of  his  History  of  M.  E. 
Church,  page  293,  that  Barnabas  McHenry  "  was  born  December  10, 
1767,  in  Eastern  Virginia."     The  time  and  place  above  given  of  his 


50  METHODISM 

eight  years  of  age,  his  father  removed  to  Washing- 
ton county,  Virginia.  He  made  a  profession  of 
religion  when  onl}'  fifteen  years  old,  and  joined  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  in  the  twentieth  year  of  his 
age,  entered  on  his  itinerant  career.  His  first  ap- 
pointment was  to  the  Yadkin  Circuit,  in  North 
Carolina.  He  spent  the  subsequent  year  in  Ken- 
tucky, probably  in  the  Lexington  Circuit,  to  which 
Peter  Massie  had  been  appointed,  though  his  name 
appears  in  connection  with  the  Cumberland. 

In  a  letter  to  one  of  the  pioneer  preachers,*  Mr. 
McHenry  says :  "  Soon  after  I  reached  the  Ken- 
tucky settlement — which  was  on  the  11th  of  June, 
1788 — Brother  Haw  formed  the  design  of  placing 
me  on  Cumberland  Circuit,  to  which  he  then  in- 
tended to  accompany  me,  and  make  a  short  stay ; 
but,  before  he  had  executed  his  purpose,  he  was  su- 
perseded by  Brother  Poythress.  The  consequence 
was,  that  Brothers  Haw  and  Massie  went  to  Cum- 
berland, and  I  continued  in  Kentucky  that  year, 
according  to  the  original  intention  of  that  appoint- 
ment. Brother  Haw,  it  would  seem,  communicated 
his  arrangements  previous  to  the  printing  of  the 
Minutes,  which  occasioned  my  name  to  be  inserted 
as  appointed  to  the  Cumberland  Circuit."  f 

The  next  year,  (1789,)  he  was  appointed  to  Dan- 
ville Circuit,  with  Peter  Massie  for  his  colleague. 

birth,  is  on  the  authority  of  a  letter  to  the  author  from  his  grandson, 
Hon.  John  H.  McHenry,  of  Owensboro,  Kentucky,  who  copied  for  us 
from  the  family  record. 

*  Rev.  Lewis  Garrett. 

t  Recollections  of  the  West,  pp.  97,  98. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  61 

The  personal  appearance  of  Mr.  McHenry  was 
commanding,  his  manners  attractive,  his  intellect 
of  the  highest  order,  and  his  voice  strong  and 
well-trained.  Soundly  converted  in  early  life,  he 
consecrated  himself  to  the  work  of  the  ministr}^ 
Regarding  Methodism  as  the  hest  exponent  of 
Christianity,  he  devoted  his  noble  life  to  the  vindi- 
cation of  its  heavenly  truths.  With  Kentucky 
Methodism  he  was  destined  to  become  intimately 
identified,  and  in  the  formation  of  its  character  to 
take  a  conspicuous  part.  By  the  probity  of  his  life, 
his  sterling  integrity,  his  invincible  purpose  to  make 
every  thing  subservient  to  his  religious  obligations, 
as  well  as  by  the  power  he  displayed  in  the  pulpit, 
he  wielded  an  influence  for  the  cause  of  truth  that 
is  now  deeply  engraven  in  the  hearts  of  the  Church, 
though  he  has  passed  away.  His  cotemporaries 
speak  of  him  in  terms  of  highest  praise.  Rev. 
Jacob  Young,  in  his  Autobiography,  in  speaking  of 
meeting,  on  one  occasion,  with  several  Kentucky 
gentlemen  of  distinction,  says :  '*  The  most  distin- 
guished man  I  met  was  Barnabas  McHenr}^  I  may 
truly  say  he  was  a  man  by  himself"  Rev.  Lewis 
Garrett,*  referring  to  his  death,  says  :  "  In  him  the 
Church  lost  a  tried  and  able  minister,  and  the  cause 
of  Christianity  an  efficient  and  firm  advocate  ; "  and, 
in  later  years,  Dr.  Bascom,t  who  never  bestowed 
undue  praise  on  either  the  living  or  the  dead,  said : 
"  His  preaching  was  mainly  expository  and  didactic. 

*  Biographical  Sketches,  p.  30. 

t  Quarterly  Review,  Vol.  III.,  pp.  421,  422. 


52  METHODISM 

The  whole  style  of  his  preaching  denoted  the  con- 
fidence of  history  and  experience.  All  seemed  to 
be  real  and  personal  to  him.  The  perfect  simplicity, 
and  yet  clear,  discriminating  accuracy  of  his  man- 
ner and  language,  made  the  impression  that  he  was 
speaking  only  of  what  he  knew  to  be  true.  He 
spoke  of  every  thing  as  of  a  natural  scene  before 
him.  There  was  an  intensity  of  conception,  a  sus- 
tained sentiment  of  personal  interest,  which  gave 
one  a  feeling  of  wonder  and  awe  in  listening  to 
him.  You  could  not  doubt  his  right  to  guide  and 
teach.  One  felt  how  safe  and  proper  it  was  to  fol- 
low such  leading.  His  style  was  exceedingly  rich, 
without  being  showy.  There  was  no  effervescence. 
It  was  not  the  garden  and  landscape  in  bloom,  but 
in  early  bud,  giving  quiet  but  sure  indication  of 
fruit  and  foliage.  His  language  was  always  accu- 
rate, well  chosen,  strong,  and  clear.  All  his  ser- 
mons, as  delivered,  were  in  this  respect  fit  for  the 
press — not  only  remarkably  free  from  error  on  the 
score  of  thought,  but  from  defect  and  fault  of  style 
and  language.  His  whole  manner,  too,  was  natural, 
dignified,  and  becoming.  Good  taste  and  sound 
judgment  were  his  main  mental  characteristics. 
Of  imagination  proper  he  had  but  little,  and  still 
less  of  fancy.  Reason,  fitness,  and  beauty  were  the 
perceptions  by  which  he  was  influenced.  The  in- 
trinsic value  of  things  alone  attracted  him.  The 
outward  show  of  things  made  little  or  no  impres- 
sion upon  him,  under  any  circumstances.  The 
inner  man — the  hidden  things  of  the  heart — con- 
trolled him  in  all  his  judgments  and  preferences." 


IN    KENTUCKY.  53 

Such  was  Barnabas  McHenry,  who  was  destined 
to  be  so  closely  identified  with  the  histoiy  of  Meth- 
odism in  Kentucky,  and  to  be  a  standard-bearer  in 
its  ranks. 

Of  the  parentage  and  early  life  of  Stephen  Brooks 
we  know  but  little,  nor  have  we  any  information 
as  to  the  date  of  his  conversion.  He  was  admitted 
on  trial  in  1789,  and  appointed  to  the  Lexington 
Circuit  with  James  Haw  and  Wilson  Lee.  The 
next  year  we  find  him  on  the  Danville  Circuit, 
laboring  with  zeal  and  with  energy.  Li  1791,  his 
name  disappears  from  the  Minutes ;  *  but,  in  1792, 
it  makes  its  appearance  again,  at  which  time  he  is 
appointed  to  Sevier  Circuit,  East  Tennessee ;  and, 
in  1793,  he  locates  and  settles  in  East  Tennessee — 
after  which  we  can  learn  nothing  in  reference  to 
him,  until,  in  the  year  1796,  we  find  him  a  member 
of  the  Convention  that  framed  the  Constitution  of 
the  State  of  Tennessee.f  As  a  gentleman,  he  is 
represented  as  courteous  and  aiFable  ;  as  a  Christian, 
a  perfect  model ;  as  a  minister  of  Christ,  of  the  first 
order  of  talents.  In  "labors  abundant,"  with  the 
most  unyielding  devotion  to  his  mission,  he  endeav- 
ored to  make  "good  proof  of  his  ministry."  Re- 
gardless of  the  sacrifices  required  of  him,  he  exposed 
himself  to  the  rains  of  summer,  the  frosts  of  au- 
tumn, and  the  snows  of  winter,  that  he  might 
achieve  success.     The  perils  of  the  wilderness,  and 

*  I  presume,  by  mistake,  as  no  reason  is  assigned ;  and  the  next 
year  it  appears  again  in  the  same  way.  The  early  Minutes  are  full 
of  errors. 

t  Christian  Advocate,  March  19,  1S57. 


54  METHODISM 

the  frequent  massacres  committed  by  the  savages, 
did  not  for  a  moment  induce  him  to  hesitate.  By 
"  the  suavity  of  his  manners,  and  the  gentleness  of 
his  deportment,  he  became  a  universal  favorite  with 
the  people."  His  preaching  was  characterized  by  a 
sound  logic  and  a  holy  zeal.  His  exhortations  were 
pungent,  searching,  "powerful."  He  succeeded, 
too,  in  '^ bringing  souls  to  Christ."  *  "His  labors," 
says  one  who  knew  him,  "  were  owned  and  blessed 
of  God,  by  the  turning  of  many  from  darkness  to 
light."  t  Of  him  a  gentleman  once  said:  "If  he 
had  to  hear  but  one  sermon  before  dying,  he  would 
choose  Stephen  Brooks  to  preach  it." 

We  regret  to  record  that  this  year  closed  the 
labors  of  James  Haw  in  Kentucky.  J  He  had  been 
a  faithful  minister.  For  four  years  he  had  traversed 
the  wilderness  of  Kentucky,  often  without  shelter 
and  without  home ;  but  he  had  the  satisfaction  of 
knowing  that  his  labors  had  been  blessed,  that 
Churches  had  been  planted,  circuits  formed — and 
now  he  goes  to  another  field,  where  he  would  be 
exposed  to  hardships  and  dangers  similar  to  those 
through  which  he  had  already  passed.  But  he  had 
left  behind  him  "  written  epistles,  to  be  known  and 
read  of  all  men,"  while  the  mellow  influence  of  his 


^- Jolm  Carr,  Christian  Advocate,  March  19,  1857. 

f  John  Carr,  Christian  Advocate,  March  19,  1857. 

X  Stevens,  in  his  History  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  Vol.  II.,  p.  3G8,  in 
a  note,  says:  "Burke  says  his  labors  (James  Haw's)  closed  1789." 
Dr.  Stevens,  however,  misunderstands  Burke — who  says:  "The 
Conference  of  1789  closed  the  labors  of  James  Haw  in  Kentucky." — 
Western  Mcthodiam,  p.  73. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  55 

holy  life  and  untiring  zeal  was  destined  to  be  felt 
by  many  then  unborn.  On  the  Cumberland  Cir- 
cuit, to  which  he  was  appointed  the  next  year,  amid 
abundant  labors  and  great  success,  his  constitution 
became  impaired,  and  his  health  gave  way.  The 
testimony  is  that  "he  literally  wore  himself  out." 
He  married  a  Miss  Thomas  in  Kentucky,  and  settled 
in  Sumner  county,  Tennessee,  "where  the  people, 
because  of  their  affection  for  him,  gave  him  a  tract 
of  land  embracing  six  hundred  and  forty  acres,  on 
which  he  located." 

In  the  Minutes  of  1791,  the  question  is  asked: 
"Who  are  under  a  location  through  weakness  of 
body  or  ftimily  concerns  ?  "  In  the  answer,  with  eight 
others,  stands  the  name  of  James  Haw. 

On  the  Cumberland  Circuit,  on  which  Mr.  Haw 
closed  his  labors  as  an  itinerant  preacher,  he  was 
eminently  successful.  We  have  before  us  the  un- 
printed  manuscripts  of  the  Rev.  Learner  Blackman. 
In  reference  to  James  Haw  he  saj^s :  "  James  Haw 
was  stationed  in  Cumberland  in  1790.  He  continued 
here  several  years.  It  seemed  at  one  time,  after 
the  arrival  of  the  Methodist  preachers  in  Cumber- 
land, that  all  the  people  would  embrace  religion."  * 

We  deeply  lament  that  one  who  had  done  so 
much  for  Methodism  should  have  been  seduced 
from  its  paths  and  its  principles  by  any  influence 
whatever. 

In   the  year  1792,  the   Kev.   James    O'Kelly,  a 

*  After  Mr.  Haw's  location,  he  settled,  as  before  stated,  in  Sumner 
county,  in  the  bounds  of  Cumberland  Circuit.  The  MSS.  of  Mr. 
Blackman  were  placed  in  our  hands  by  Dr.  Summers. 


56  METHODISM 

popular  and  talented  minister,  and  at  the  time  tlie 
Presidins:  Elder  of  one  of  the  larsrest  and  most 
influential  Districts  in  the  State  of  Virginia,  be- 
came dissatisfied  with  the  economy  and  government 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  withdrew 
from  its  communion.  For  fifteen  years,  as  an  evan- 
gelist, he  had  labored  successfully  in  Xorth  Caro- 
lina and  Virginia.  In  every  department  in  which 
he  labored,  he  exhibited  those  qualities  that  so  em- 
inently fitted  him  for  usefulness.  During  the  eight 
years  in  which  he  presided  over  Districts,  '*he 
wielded  a  commanding  influence  over  the  preachers 
of  the  South."  There  was  no  minister  in  the  Con- 
nection who  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  Bishop  As- 
bury  to  a  greater  extent — and  no  man  abused  that 
confidence  more  than  he.  In  his  journal,  he  speaks 
of  him  as  "a  warm-hearted,  good  man,"  and  says : 
*' James  O'Kelly  and  myself  enjoyed  and  comforted 
each  other:  this  dear  man  rose  at  midnight,  and 
prayed  most  devoutly  for  me  and  himself."  * 

In  his  dissatisfaction  with  the  Church,  he  was 
particularly  hostile  to  Bishop  Asbury,  and  heaped 
upon  him  the  most  bitter  invective.  'Not  contented 
with  the  organization  of  the  ^'  Republican  Methodist 
Church  " — the  name  by  which  the  new^  faction  was 
distinguished — he  endeavored  to  "  raze  to  the 
foundations"  the  fair  and  sightly  edifice  to  the 
erection  of  which  he  had  contributed  so  many  of 
the  best  years  of  his  life.  By  the  influence  he 
exerted  he  induced  a  large  number  of  ministers  to 

*  Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  I.,  p.  383. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  57 

follow  his  example — the  most  of  whom,  however, 
afterward  returned  to  the  Church  from  which,  for  a 
brief  period,  they  had  been  estranged. 

Among  those  who  were  led  away  by  the  perni- 
cious teachings  of  Mr.  O'Kelly,  was  James  Haw.  A 
man  who  had  stood  so  prominently  in  the  fore- 
ground of  Methodism  in  the  West,  and  whose  life 
had  been  devoted  to  its  success,  could  take  no  step 
of  any  importance  without  exerting  an  influence  for 
good  or  for  evil.  Enjoying  the  confidence  of  the 
people,  many  of  whom  had  been  brought  to  Christ 
through  his  instrumentality,  it  is  no  matter  of  sur- 
prise that  the  position  taken  by  him  should  induce 
so  many  others,  both  among  the  laity  as  well  as  the 
ministr}',  to  embrace  the  delusion.  A  writer,*  on 
whom  we  may  rely,  says :  "  Mr.  Haw  embraced  the 
views  of  O'Kelly,  and,  by  his  influence  and  address, 
brought  over  the  traveling  preachers,  and  every 
local  preacher  but  one,  to  his  views,  in  the  county 
in  which  he  had  located  ;  "  and  that  "  considerable 
dissatisfaction  obtained  in  many  of  the  societies." 
In  the  unpublished  manuscript  of  the  Rev.  Learner 
Blackman,  in  our  possession,  he  says :  "  From  the 
time  Methodism  was  first  introduced  in  Cumber- 
land till  about  the  year  1795,  Methodism  had  been 
increasing.  Birch ett,  Wilson  Lee,  and  Buxton, 
and  others  of  the  first  preachers  stationed  in  Cum- 
berland, will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  None  were 
more  useful  than  Mr.  Haw,  till  he  became  disaf- 
fected toward  the  Methodist  discipline  and  govern- 

*  Rev.  Wm.  Burke. 


58  METHODISM 

ment,  wliicb,  in  effect,  cut  off  bis  influence  as  a 
preacher,  and  did  much  injury  to  the  cause  of  Meth- 
odism." It  frequently  occurs  that  the  first  departure, 
on  the  part  of  a  Methodist  preacher,  from  the 
Church  whose  prosperity  had  been  promoted  by  bis 
labors,  is  only  the  precursor  of  disquietude  and  un- 
rest. Tlie  history  of  the  Church  presents  but  few 
examples  of  ministers  who  had  been  prominent 
in  labors  and  in  usefulness,  and  who,  from  any 
cause,  had  sought  the  communion  of  other  denom- 
inations, who  did  not  lose  their  hold  on  public  con- 
fidence, and  whose  usefulness  was  not  for  ever 
impaired.  It  was  so  with  James  Haw.  He  had 
been  the  zealous  advocate  of  the  doctrines  and 
economy  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Every  feature  that  belonged  to  it  was  dear  to  his 
heart — to  achieve  its  success  he  had  performed  la- 
bors and  braved  dangers,  undaunted ;  and  now,  in 
his  strugglings  to  turn  away  from  his  "  earliest  love," 
he  lost  much  of  the  religious  warmth  and  spirit  that 
had  distinguished  his  former  life. 

Mr.  Hinde,*  the  author  of  a  series  of  excellent 
articles  on  *' Early  Western  Methodism,"  in  his 
animadversions  on  both  James  Haw  and  Benjamin 
Ogden,  says  "they  both  went  to  nothing."  There 
is  certainly  nothing  in  their  history  that  justifies  so 
harsh  a  verdict.  However  much  Mr.  Haw  may 
have  lost  of  the  influence  he  had  exerted  in  former 
years,  and  to  whatever  extent  he  may  have  gone  in 
the  departure  from  his  former  spirit,  it  is  a  source 

*  Methodist  Magazine,  1819,  p.  186. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  59 

of  gratification  to  us  that  he  always  maintained  a 
reputation  for  piety.  But^  his  influence  gone  in  the 
Methodist  Church,  in  the  year  1801  he  joined  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  he  lived  an  example 
of  piet}',  and  died,  some  years  after,  a  minister  in 
that  Communion. 

His  children,  however,  and  his  descendants,  to 
the  present  time,  so  far  as  they  have  become  con- 
nected with  any  Church,  have  sought  that  of  their 
father's  early  love ;  or,  if  unconverted,  have  been 
attached  to  its  interest. 

The  following  account  of  James  Haw,  from  the 
hitherto  unpublished  manuscript  of  the  Rev.  Learner 
Blackman,  w- ill  be  read  with  interest : 

"James  Haw  ultimately  left  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  called  himself  a  Republican 
Methodist.  Mr.  Spear,  who  was  stationed  in  Cum- 
berland in  1794,  states  that  he  found  Haw  intent  on 
representing  Bishop  Asbury  in  the  most  unfavorable 
point  of  light,  though  he  made  no  open  avow^al  to 
leave  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  that  time, 
but  used  his  influence  to  get  the  j^oung  preachers 
and  members  of  the  society  disaftected  with  Bishop 
Asbury  and  the  Discipline  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  In  1795,  Mr.  Haw  held  a  conference 
with  the  preachers  he  had  influence  with  ;  at  which 
Joseph  Brown  and  Jonathan  Stephens  were  licensed 
as  Republican  Methodist  preachers.  They  had  both 
been  previously  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Haw's  design  now  was  no  longer 
a  secret.  It  was  now  notorious  that  he  was  influ- 
enced by  the  same  principles  and  prejudices  of  James 


60  M  E  T  II  0  D  I  S  M 

O'Kellj,  and  that  his  prejudices  had  the  same  oh- 
ject.  About  the  time  of  the  great  and  increasing 
difficulty  caused  by  Mr.  Haw,  William  Burke,  an 
itinerant  preacher,  arrived  in  Cumberland.  He  re- 
quested Mr.  Haw  to  meet  him  at  Mr.  Edwards's, 
and  adjust  the  differences,  if  possible.  Mr.  Haw 
met,  according  to  appointment,  at  the  request  of 
Mr.  Burke;  but  the  attempts  to  adjust  the  differ- 
ences with  the  parties  were  ineffectual.  Haw  de- 
clared himself  no  more  a  Methodist.  Mr.  Burke 
farther  stated  that  most  of  the  officials  of  Cumber- 
land had  become  disaffected  to  our  government,  in 
consequence  of  Haw's  influence,  but  that  they  were 
all  reconciled,  except  Haw  and  Stephens.  Joseph 
Dunn  came  back  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
after  about  six  weeks.  Stephens  backslid  and  became 
a  wicked  man.  A  very  few  joined  Haw.  He  held 
one  sacrament,  and  it  is  said  that  himself  and  wife 
were  the  only  communicants.  But  very  few,  if  any, 
were  either  awakened  or  converted  under  Haw's 
ministry,  after  he  left  the  Methodists.  But,  in  con- 
sequence of  William  Burke,  who  did  himself  much 
honor,  an  almost  expiring  cause  was  saved.  Wil- 
liam Burke  must  be  regarded  as  the  principal  cause, 
under  God,  of  diverting  the  dismal  cloud  that 
seemed  to  be  hanging  over  the  infant  Church. 

"  In  the  time  of  the  revival  among  the  Presbyte- 
rians and  Methodists,  about  the  year  1800,  Haw 
joined  the  Presbyterians.  At  that  time,  the  Pres- 
byterians were  friendly  with  the  Methodists  ;  Meth- 
odists and  Presbyterians  preached  and  communed 
together.     But  when  Haw  joined  the  Presbyterians, 


IN     KENTUCKY.  61 

as  he  had  said  many  things  disrespectful  of  Bishop 
Asbury  and  of  the  form  of  Discipline,  after  he  with- 
drew from  the  Church,  the  existing  union  was  likely 
to  be  broken.  John  Page  and  Thomas  Wilkerson 
were  stationed  in  Cumberland  at  that  time.  They 
very  unreservedly  stated  their  objections  to  Mr. 
Haw,  and  that,  if  he  continued  among  them,  he 
must  make  such  acknowledgments  as  would  satisfy 
the  Methodists ;  and,  if  he  did  not,  the  union  must 
be,  in  the  nature  of  things,  broken.  The  Presby- 
terians determined  that  Mr.  Haw  should  make  such 
public  acknowledgment,  that  the  existing  union 
might  not  be  interrupted. 

"The  charges  were  stated,  which  were  the  fol- 
lowing: 

"  1.  For  falsely  representing  Bishop  Asbury  as 
having  a  libidinous  thirst  for  power. 

"  2.  For  making  attempts  to  disunite  the  Meth- 
odist Society  in  Cumberland. 

"  3.  In  attempting  to  destroy  the  Methodist  Dis- 
cipline— charges  that  Haw  did  not  deny.  But  it 
was  requested  that  he  should  make  his  acknowledg- 
ments publicly. 

"Accordingly,  on  Sunday  morning,  at  camp-meet- 
ing, before  thousands,  Mr.  Haw  made  acknowledg- 
ments full  and  satisfactory.  He  acknowledged  he 
had  misrepresented  Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Meth- 
odist Discipline. 

"After  this,  Mr.  Haw  seemed  to  rise  in  the 
esteem  of  the  people,  and  gain  some  influence  as  a 
preacher.  He  continued  with  the  Presbyterians 
while  he  lived. 


62  METHODISM 

"We  have  reason  to  believe  tliat  his  sun  went 
down  in  peace — that  he  died  in  the  faith." 

We  devote  so  much  space  to  Mr.  Haw,  because 
the  truth  of  history  demands  it.  However  much  we 
may  lament  his  departure  from  primitive  Meth- 
odism, we  rejoice  in  that  grace  by  which  he  main- 
tained a  Christian  character  and  found  sweet 
consolation  in  the  hour  of  death. 

As  yet,  we  had  but  two  circuits  in  Kentucky. 
The  Danville  Circuit  included  one-third  the  entire 
State,*  while  the  Lexington  embraced  the  counties 
of  Fayette,  Jessamine,  Woodford,  Franklin,  Scott, 
and  Harrison. 

Among  the  ministers  whose  labors  contributed  so 
much  to  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  truth 
during  this  year,  the  name  of  James  O'Cull  ought 
not  to  be  omitted.  He  was  a  native  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  by  birth  and  education  a  Eoman  Catholic. 
When  quite  a  young  man,  he  attended  a  Methodist 
meeting,  and  was  awakened  under  the  preaching 
of  the  gospel ;  and,  immediately  upon  his  conver- 
sion, began  to  persuade  others  to  seek  the  salvation 
of  their  souls.  In  1789,  he  came  to  Kentucky,  a 
local  preacher,  and  traveled  two  years  under  the 
Presiding  Elder.  In  1791,  he  joined  the  Confer- 
ence, and  was  appointed  to  the  Cumberland  Circuit 
as  colleague  to  Barnabas  McHenry.  Naturally  of  a 
feeble  constitution,  he  was  unable  to  endure  the 
privations  and  perform  the  labors  required  of  him 


*  Quarterly  Review  of  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  Vol. 
Ill,  p.  416. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  63 

on  that  circuit,  and  before  the  close  of  the  year  he 
was  compelled  to  retire  from  the  work,  to  enter  it 
as  an  itinerant  no  more.  In  Kentucky,  however,  as 
well  as  on  the  Cumberland  Circuit,  he  was  success- 
ful as  a  minister.  Through  his  instrumentality, 
many  souls  were  awakened  and  converted  to  God — 
among  whom  was  the  husband  of  Mrs.  Jane  Stamper, 
referred  to  in  a  former  chapter.  As  a  preacher,  Mr. 
O'Cull  stood  high.  His  sermons  were  not  only  dis- 
tinguished for  their  zeal  and  fervor,  but  also  for 
their  strength  and  discrimination.  To  the  doctrines 
and  economy  of  the  Methodist  Church  he  was 
deeply  attached,  and  to  vindicate  them,  whenever 
assailed  in  his  presence,  was  the  joy  of  his  heart. 

Subsequent  to  his  labors  on  the  Cumberland  Cir- 
cuit, his  health  was  so  feeble  that  he  could  preach 
but  seldom,  and  frequently  in  only  a  whisper,  yet  a 
peculiar  unction  always  attended  his  ministrations. 
One  who  knew  him  well  gives  the  following  account 
of  a  sermon  he  heard  him  preach  :  * 

"  I  once  heard  him  preach  a  characteristic  sermon 
on  the  parable  of  the  Prodigal  Son.  He  brought 
the  whole  subject  simply  but  forcibly  before  the 
congregation.  First  he  described  the  prodigal  leav- 
ing home,  thoughtless  and  gleeful — the  very  expres- 
sion of  wealth  and  fashion.  He  followed  him  to 
the  resorts  of  pleasure  and  dissipation,  where  he 
was  surrounded  by  flattering  sycophants,  who  com- 
plimented his  person,  his  talents,  and,  above  all,  his 
liberality.     He  sailed  on  a  smooth  sea  while   his 

*  Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper. 


64  METHODISM 

money  lasted,  but  when  it  failed,  his  associates 
turned  from  him  with  disdain,  and  called  him  a  fool. 
When  he  applied  for  aid  to  those  who  had  flattered 
and  ruined  him,  they  kicked  him  out-of-doors  as  a 
spendthrift  and  vagabond,  unworthy  of  relief  or 
pity.  Penniless  and  ragged,  he  sought  a  livelihood 
by  feeding  swine — a  most  disgraceful  employment 
for  a  Jew,  but  it  aftbrded  him  no  relief:  he  w^ould 
fain  have  satisfied  his  hunger  with  the  husks  which 
the  swine  did  eat.  Alas  !  luckless  boy,  w^hat  a  sad 
reverse ! 

"At  length,  however,  he  came  to  himself,  and 
thought  of  the  happy  home  he  had  left,  of  the  kind- 
ness of  his  father,  and  the  plenty  with  which  his 
house  abounded.  Ah,  should  he  ever  see  that  home 
again?  His  pride  revolted  at  the  thought  of  so 
humiliating  a  return,  for  pride  will  follow  a  man  to 
the  very  swine-yard,  and  curse  him  even  there.  But 
necessity  pinched  and  want  distressed  him,  and  he 
said,  '  I  will  arise  and  go  to  my  father,  and  say  unto 
him,  Father,  I  have  sinned  against  Heaven  and  be- 
fore thee,  and  am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called  thy 
son ;  make  me  as  one  of  thy  hired  servants.' 

"The  Saviour  gives  us  no  items  of  his  travel 
home,  but  I  reckon  the  poor  fellow  had  a  hard  time 
of  it.  No  doubt  he  begged  his  way,  probably  trav- 
eling upon  his  bare  feet.  How  very  different  the 
circumstances  of  his  return  from  those  of  his  de- 
parture !  He  went  away  in  rich  attire,  with  abun- 
dance of  gold,  finely  mounted  and  attended.  But 
look  at  him  now !  He  is  in  sight  of  his  native 
home,  covered  with  rags,  barefoot,  and  bleeding! 


IN     KENTUCKY.  65 

He  moves  slowly,  his  head  droops  down,  and  an  old 
hat,  with  a  tow-string  for  a  band,  hangs  about  his 
ears.  The  father,  sitting  in  his  veranda,  and  look- 
ing down  the  long,  shaded  avenue,  sees  the  sad, 
bent  figure,  slowly  and  painfully  halting  toward  the 
house.  He  feels  a  strange  yearning  toward  the 
wretched  creature.  '  Who  is  it  ? '  he  inquires.  The 
servant  does  not  know,  but  w^ould  judge  it  to  be 
some  beggar  coming  to  tax  his  ^veil-known  liber- 
ality. But  ere  the  answer  w^as  ended,  his  heart  had 
told  him  that  the  stranger  was  his  long-lost  son  ! 
With  eao-er  haste  he  runs  to  meet  him;  the  son 
confesses :  the  father,  not  waiting  to  hear,  cries  out 
for  joy,  '  My  son  that  was  dead  is  alive  again  ! '  falls 
upon  his  neck,  kisses  him,  and  bathes  his  thin 
cheeks  with  a  father's  warm  tears. 

"After  applying  the  history  to  illustrate  the  loving- 
kindness  of  our  Heavenly  Father  to  his  wandering 
creature,  man,  he  called  in  the  most  simple  manner 
upon  the  prodigals  present  to  return  to  their  insulted 
but  forgiving  Father,  assuring  them  that  they  should 
meet  a  merciful  reception.  And  though  the  whole 
discourse  was  of  this  simple  narrative  style,  and 
delivered  in  a  low  and  measured  tone  of  voice,  the 
congregation  was  so  convulsed  with  emotion  that 
there  was  scarcely  a  dry  eye  in  it. 
'  "  He  seldom  preached  without  producing  a  similar 
result." 

He  lived  for  many  years  after  the  failure  of  his 
health,  and  passed  away  to  the  "  rest  that  remaineth 
to  the  people  of  God." 

Methodism,  during  this  year,  assumed  a  more 

VOL.  I. — 3 


66  METHODISM 

permanent  form.  The  experience  of  Poythress  and 
of  Haw — the  sound  and  logical  preaching  of  Mc- 
Henry — the  persuasive  eloquence  of  Wilson  Lee, 
and  of  Brooks,  with  the  holy  zeal,  the  pathos,  and 
the  tears  of  Peter  Massie,  and  the  earnestness  of 
James  O'Cull,  under  the  blessing  of  Heaven,  in- 
vested Methodism  with  a  commanding  influence. 
At  the  close  of  the  year,  they  report  one  thousand 
and  ninety  members,  being  an  increase  of  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-seven. 

During  this  year,  the  support  of  the  preachers 
was  very  defective.  Small  as  the  allowance  was,  the 
people  were  unable  to  meet  it.  Hence,  at  the  Con- 
ference held  in  Baltimore  on  the  6th  of  September, 
we  have  the  following  record :  "At  the  Baltimore 
Conference,  there  was  a  collection  of  .£72  9s.  6d ; 
and,  as  the  brethren  in  the  Kentucky  and  Ohio  Dis- 
tricts happened  to  be  in  the  greatest  need,  the  Con- 
ference generously  voted  two- thirds  of  the  said  sum 
as  a  partial  supply  for  the  preachers  in  the  Ohio 
District,  and  one-third  for  the  brethren  in  Kentucky — 
the  whole  to  be  sent  in  books."* 

It  was  truly  fortunate  that  the  support  of  the 
preachers  at  that  day  did  not  require  large  amounts. 
They  were  all,  then  in  Kentucky,  unmarried  men, 
and  their  appointments  were  so  remote  from  each 
other  that  they  could  have  no  settled  home,  but 
lived  among  the  people. 

*  General  Minutes,  Vol.  I.,  p.  39. 


^^ 


t  ^    o 

5^  s 


O 


B 


M 

h 


IN     KENTUCKY.  67 


CHAPTEE   IV. 

FROM    THE   FIRST    CONFERENCE    HELD    IN    KENTUCKY,  IN 
1790,  TO    THE    CONFERENCE    OF    1792. 

Bishop  Asbury's  first  visit  to  Kentucky — The  first  Annual  Confer- 
ence in  the  District  held  at  Masterson's  Station,  near  Lexington — 
Richard  Whatcoat — Hope  Hull — John  Seawell — First  Methodist 
Church  in  Kentucky — Peter  Massie — John  Clark — The  Conference 
composed  of  six  members — Limestone  and  Madison  Circuits — 
Henry  Birchett — David  Haggard — Samuel  Tucker — Joseph  Lil- 
lard — Death  of  Samuel  Tucker — Bethel  Academy — Madison  Circuit 
disappears  from  the  Minutes — Salt  River  Circuit — Barnabas  Mc- 
Henry — Death  of  Peter  Massie — Life  and  death  of  Simeon. 

In  the  spring  of  1790,  Bishop  Asbury  made  his 
first  visit  to  Kentucky,  where,  for  the  first  time,  an 
Annual  Conference  was  held.  He  was  accompanied 
by  Eichard  "Whatcoat — afterward  elected  Bishop — 
and  also  by  Hope  Hull  and  John  Seawell,  men  well 
known  in  those  days  as  ardent,  zealous,  and  useful 
preachers.  The  Conference  was  held,  commencing 
on  the  15th  of  May,  at  Masterson's  Station,  about 
five  miles  north-west  of  Lexington,  where  the  first 
Methodist  Church*  in  Kentucky — a  plain  log  struc- 
ture— was  erected.  To  reach  the  seat  of  the  Con- 
ference, required  a  journey  of  several  days  through 
a    dreary  wilderness,   replete    with    dangers    and 

*  This  house  is  still  standing  (1868).     See  engraving. 


68  METHODISM 

infested  by  savages.  ^'A  volunteer  company  was 
raised  to  guard  the  Bishop  through  this  dreary 
waste."  This  company  was  composed  of  the  Rev. 
Peter  Massie  and  John  Chirk,  with  eight  others. 

On  the  seventh  day  of  their  journey,  they  reached 
Eichmond,  the  county-seat  of  Madison  county,  and 
three  days  afterward,  reached  Lexington.  In  alkid- 
ing  to  this  journey,  Bishop  Asbury  says:*  "I  was 
strangely  outdone  for  want  of  sleep,  having  been 
greatly  deprived  of  it  in  my  journey  through  the 
wilderness — which  is  like  being  at  sea  in  some 
respects,  and  in  others  worse.  Our  way  is  over 
mountains,  steep  hills,  deep  rivers,  and  muddy 
creeks — a  thick  growth  of  reeds  for  miles  together, 
and  no  inhabitants  but  wiki  beasts  and  savage  men. 
I  slept  about  an  hour  the  first  night,  and  about  two 
the  last.  "We  ate  no  regular  meals ;  our  bread  grew 
short,  and  I  was  much  spent."  On  his  way,  he  "saw 
the  graves  of  the  slain — twenty-four  in  one  camp  " — 
who  had,  a  few  nights  previous,  been  murdered  by 
the  Indians. 

The  Conference  was  composed  of  six  members, 
namely,  Francis  Poythress,  James  Haw,  Wilson  Lee, 
Stephen  Brooks,  Barnabas  McIIenry,  and  Peter 
Massie. 

Bishop  Asbury,  in  his  journal, f  in  speaking  of 
the  Conference,  says  :  "  Our  Conference  was  held  at 
Brother  Masterson's — a  very  comfortable  house  and 
kind  people.  We  went  through  our  business  in 
great  love  and  harmony.     I  ordained  Wilson  Lee, 

^  Journal,  Vol.  II,  p.  83.  t  Vol.  II.,  p.  84. 


I  N     K  E  N  T  U  C  K  Y .  69 

Thomas  Williamson,  and  Barnabas  McIIenry,  elders. 
We  had  preaching  noon  and  night,  and  souls  were 
converted,  and  the  fallen  restored.  My  soul  has 
been  blessed  among  these  people,  and  I  am  exceed- 
ingly pleased  with  them.  I  w^ould  not,  for  the 
worth  of  all  the  place,  have  been  prevented  in  this 
visit,  having  no  doubt  but  that  it  will  be  for  the 
good  of  the  present  and  rising  generations.  It  is 
true,  such  exertions  of  mind  and  body  are  trying; 
but  I  am  supported  under  it :  if  souls  are  saved,  it 
is  enough.  Brother  Poythress  is  much  alive  to  God. 
We  fixed  a  plan  for  a  school,  and  called  it  Bethel, 
and  obtained  a  subscription  of  three  hundred  pounds 
in  land  and  money  toward  its  establishment." 

The  Conference  lasted  only  two  days ;  for,  on 
Monday,  the  17th,  we  find  Bishop  Asbury  again  in 
the  saddle,  and  "preaching  ten  miles  from  Lex- 
ington." The  session  was  attended  by  a  large 
number  of  people.  The  preaching  was  with  divine 
power.  One  who  was  present*  says:  "The  house 
was  crowded  day  and  night,  and  often  the  floor  was 
covered  with  the  slain  of  the  Lord,  and  the  house 
and  the  woods  resounded  with  the  shouts  of  the 
converted." 

The  visit  of  Bishop  Asbury  to  Kentucky  w^as  of 
the  highest  importance  to  the  infant  Church.  Al- 
though his  labors  had  been  abundant,  they  had  been 
bestowed  on  the  older  settlements  of  the  country. 
That  he  might  fully  understand  the  condition  and 
the  wants  of  the  Church  here,  it  was  requisite  that 

^  Rev.  Lewis  Garrett. 


70  METHODISM 

he  become  personally  familiar  with  the  perils  by 
which  it  was  surrounded.  'No  Bishop  of  our  Church 
had  ever  preached  in  the  District.  Bishop  Asbury 
was  the  first  preacher  of  any  denomination,  holding 
that  high  and  sacred  office,  who  exercised  its  func- 
tions in  Kentucky.  It  was  necessary  to  organize  a 
Conference  in  Kentucky ;  and  it  was  proper,  in  an 
eminent  degree,  that  its  organization  should  take 
place  under  the  auspices  of  such  a  man  as  Bishop 
Asbury.  Privations  had  to  be  endured,  sacrifices 
made,  difficulties  surmounted,  and  dangers  encoun- 
tered, by  the  missionaries — and  who  was  so  well 
prepared  to  whisper  words  of  cheer  as  one  who  had 
trodden  the  path  of  trial,  and  planted  the  standard 
of  the  cross  amid  discouragements  before  which 
stout  hearts  had  paled  ? 

Bishop  Asbury  was  no  ordinary  man.  "  He  was 
the  only  son  of  an  intelligent  yeoman  of  the  parish 
of  Handsworth,  Staffordshire."*  From  early  child- 
hood, he  was  seriously  impressed  upon  the  subject 
of  religion.  Converted  to  God  when  quite  a  youth, 
*'at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  began  to  hold  public 
meetings,  and  before  he  was  eighteen  began  to 
preach;" t  and  started  out  as  an  itinerant  before 
he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-six,  ho  was  appointed  by  Mr.  Wesley  to 
America  ;  and,  at  the  Christmas  Conference  of  1784, 
held  in  the  "Lovely  Lane  Chapel,"  in  the  city  of 
Baltimore,  he  was  unanimously  elected  to  the  office 
of  Bishop. 

*  Stevens's  History  of  M.E.  Church,  Vol.1.,  p  111.     flbid.,  p.  115. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  71 

Possessed  of  a  high  order  of  talent,  with  a  mind 
well  cultivated  and  richly  stored  w^ith  useful  knowl- 
edge; with  a  will  to  execute;  thoroughly  imbued 
with  the  spirit  of  his  mission ;  entirely  consecrated 
to  the  service  of  God;  devoting  every  energy  to 
the  prosecution  of  the  work  to  which  he  had  been 
called — to  this  man  American  Methodism  and 
American  Christianity  is  more  largely  indebted 
than  to  any  minister  of  the  gospel  of  the  present  or 
the  past.  He  was  a  Bishop  according  to  apostolic 
rule.  "While  many  of  the  prelates  on  the  Continent 
were  reposing  on  their  beds  of  down,  and  priests 
of  the  Established  Church,  in  silken  robes,  were 
reeling  before  the  altars  of  God,  like  the  unwearied 
sun,  he  was  "moving  from  day  to  day  in  his  jour- 
ney around  this  vast  continent,  of  five  thousand 
miles,  annually,"  and  diffusing  his  benign  influence 
from  center  to  circumference. 

To  the  infant  Church  in  Kentucky,  his  visit, 
though  brief,  gave  a  fresh  impulse.  The  revival  of 
religion  that  commenced  at  the  session  of  this  Con- 
ference spread  through  many  portions  of  the  State, 
so  that  this  year  was  far  more  prosperous  than  any 
that  had  preceded  it. 

The  Conference  was  an  humble  one — only  six* 
preachers;  but  small  as  it  was  in  the  beginning, 
these  ministers  w^ere  destined  to  go  forth,  "  a  flame 

*  Collins,  in  his  History  of  Kentucky,  says  twelve ;  but  Mr.  Col- 
lins counts  visiting  preachers.  The  Minutes  report  only  six,  and  the 
list  of  appointments  adds  four,  and  deducts  three,  namely,  James 
Haw,  Wilson  Lee,  and  Peter  Massie.  These  latter  were  appointed 
to  the  Cumberland  Circuit. 


72  METHODISM 

of  fire,"  as  tlie  heralds  of  the  cross,  shedding  the 
mellow  light  of  Christianity,  and  spreading  the 
triumphs  of  the  gospel,  through  every  settlement 
of  the  State;  winning  many  trophies  to  the  Re- 
deemer from  the  ranks  of  sin.  It  was  their  mis- 
sion to  lay  the  foundations  of  a  system,  deep  and 
wide,  whose  teachings  should  bless  the  nations ;  to 
plant  here,  upon  this  virgin  soil,  the  evergreen- 
tree  of  Christianity — which,  though  the  storms  of 
opposition  should  gather  around  it,  and  the 
lightnings  of  persecution  play  upon  it,  should 
continue  to  grow,  until  its  boughs  should  spread 
over  every  hill-top  and  upon  every  vale — offering  a 
shelter  to  the  weary  and  way-worn  pilgrim  on  his 
journey  to  the  grave. 

Hitherto  there  had  been  but  two  circuits  in  Ken- 
tucky: the  Minutes  this  year  report  four,  adding 
the  Limestone  and  Madison ;  *  and  nine  preachers, 
instead  of  six,  are  appointed  to  cultivate  this  field. 
The  names  of  Henry  Birchett,  David  Haggard, 
Samuel  Tucker,  and  Joseph  Lillard,  appear  on  the 
roll  for  this  department  of  the  work,  for  the  first 
time. 

Henry  Birchett  had  entered  the  itinerant  ministry 
in  1788,  and,  before  coming  to  Kentucky,  had  trav- 
eled on  Camden  and  Bertie  Circuits,  in  North  Car- 
olina. He  was  a  Virginian  by  birth.  Surrounded 
in  childhood  with  the  comforts  of  life,  and  reared 
amid  ease  and  abundance,  he  cheerfully  consecrated 

*The  Cumberland  Circuit  is  in  the  Kentucky  District;  but  as  it 
was  almost  exclusively  in  Tonnesseo,  wo  do  not  refer  to  it  as  a  part 
of  Kentucky  Methodism. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  73 

himself  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  To  leave  the 
comforts  of  home  and  the  society  of  friends,  and 
become  identified  with  the  fortunes  of  the  itinerant 
work  was,  at  that  day,  no  ordinary  sacrifice.  The 
wants  of  the  Church  in  Kentucky  required  ministe- 
rial help,  and  Mr.  Birchett  cheerfully  volunteered  for 
this  distant  and  dangerous  field.  In  the  circuits  he 
traveled,  he  was  eminently  useful  and  remarkably 
popular.  His  talents  were  good.  He  was  regarded 
"an  excellent  preacher;"  while  his  zeal  scarcely 
knew  any  bounds.  Nor  did  he  confine  himself  to 
the  labors  of  the  pulpit.  He  looked  on  the  children 
as  the  future  hope  of  the  Church,  and  in  their 
moral  and  religious  instruction  he  took  the  deepest 
interest.  "In  every  neighborhood  where  it  was 
practicable,  he  formed  the  children  into  classes, 
sang  and  prayed  with  them,  catechised  them,  and 
exhorted  them."'''  For  many  years  after  he  had 
"  entered  into  rest,"  his  memory  was  green  and  his 
name  was  fragrant  among  the  young  people. 

David  Haggard  accompanied  Mr.  Birchett  into 
Kentucky.  He  was  admitted  to  the  ministry  in 
1787,  and  had  labored  on  Banks  and  Anson  Cir- 
cuits, North  Carolina,  and  on  Halifax,  in  Virginia. 
In  connection  with  Henry  Birchett,  he  was,  this  year, 
as  w^ell  as  the  succeeding,  appointed  to  Lexington 
Circuit.  In  1792,  he  was  sent  to  New  River  Cir- 
cuit, Virginia;  and,  in  1793,  to  Salisbury,  North 
Carolina;  after  which  his  name  disappears  from  the 
Minutes.     He,  however,  returned  to  the  East,  and 

*  Western  Methodism,  p.  69. 


74  METHODISM 

became  connected  with  the  O'Kelly  schism;  but 
finally  joined  the  New  Lights,  and  died  in  their 
communion.*  During  the  two  years  of  his  labors  in 
Kentucky,  and  indeed  during  all  the  time  of  his 
connection  with  the  itinerancy,  he  was  a  faithful, 
acceptable,  and  useful  preacher. 

Joseph  Lillard  was  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  He 
was  born  not  far  from  Harrodsburg,t  and  this  year 
entered  the  traveling  connection.  His  appoint- 
ment was  to  the  Limestone  Circuit,  with  Samuel 
Tucker.  He  traveled  his  second  year  on  the  Salt 
River  Circuit,  as  colleague  to  Wilson  Lee ;  after 
which  his  name  disappears  from  the  Minutes.  After 
his  location,  he  settled  near  Harrodsburg,  Ken- 
tucky, not  far  from  the  place  of  his  birth,  where, 
among  his  friends  and  neighbors,  he  lived  to  a  good 
old  age.  In  his  local  relation  to  the  Church,  al- 
though as  a  preacher  he  was  unpretending,  yet,  by 
the  sanctity  of  his  life,  and  by  his  devotion  to  the 
Church,  he  was  very  useful.  In  his  home  the 
weary  itinerant  always  found  a  cordial  w^elcome  and 
a  place  of  rest,  while  by  his  liberality  he  contributed 
largely  to  the  promotion  of  the  Church.  ITeither 
the  precise  date  nor  the  manner  of  his  death  is 
known. J 

*Collins's  Kentucky,  p.  126. 

f  Collins,  in  his  History  of  Kentucky,  p.  127,  makes  this  state- 
ment. If  correct,  Lillard  must  have  been  very  young  when  he 
entered  the  itinerancy. 

J  In  a  letter  to  the  author,  the  Rev.  S.  X.  Hall,  of  the  Kentucky 
Conference,  says:  "The  best  information  I  can  get  in  reference  to 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Lillard  is,  that  he  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in  what 
is  now  Mercer  county.      He  was  esteemed  to  be  a  good  man,  truly 


IN    KENTUCKY.  75 

Samuel  Tucker,  just  admitted  on  trial,  was  also 
appointed  this  year  to  the  Limestone*  Circuit,  but 
did  not  live  to  enter  upon  his  work.  On  his  way 
to  Limestone,  in  descending  the  Ohio  River,  at  or 
near  the  mouth  of  Brush  Creek,  the  boat  was  at- 
tacked by  Indians,  and  the  most  of  the  crew 
killed.  We  also  learn  that  Mr.  Tucker  exhibited 
that  most  extraordinary  coolness  during  the  attack, 
by  which  the  brave  man  is  always  distinguished. 
He  continued  to  defend  the  boat  with  his  rifle, 
until  every  man  was  killed  except  himself,  and  he 
mortally  wounded.  He  reached  Limestone  alive, 
but  soon  died  of  his  wounds.  His  remains  now 
lie,  with  no  stone  to  mark  his  grave,  in  the  cem- 
etery at  Maysville. 

In  alluding  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Tucker,  the  Rev. 
^Yilliam  Burke,  in  his  Autobiography, f  says  : 

*' There  is  one  thing  worthy  of  notice,  and  that 
is,  that,  notwithstanding  tlie  constant  exposure  the 
traveling  preachers  were  subjected  to,  but  two  of 
them  fell  by  the  hands  of  the  savages,  and  both  of 
them  by  the  name  of  Tucker.     One  was  a  young 

pious,  but  somewhat  eccentric.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  very  ordi- 
nary preacher.  About  nine  miles  from  Harrodsburg  there  is  a 
large  brick  church,  with  a  somewhat  prosperous  membership,  princi- 
pally built  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Lillard,  and  bearing  the  name  of 
Joseph's  Chapel,  named  for  its  builder.  He  died  some  fifteen  years 
ago,  while  on  his  way  from  Missouri  to  Kentucky.  It  is  not  known 
how,  when,  or  where  he  died.  His  friends  and  relatives  think  he 
was  murdered." 

*The  point  where  Maysville  now  stands  was  originally  called 
Limestone. 

f  Western  Methodism,  p.  44. 


76  METHODISM 

mail,  descending  the  Ohio  on  a  flat-boat,  in  company 
with  several  other  boats — all  were  family  boats, 
moving  to  Kentucky.  They  w^ere  attacked  by  the 
Indians,  near  the  mouth  of  Brush  Creek,  now 
Adams  county,  Ohio.  Several  boats  were  taken 
possession  of  by  the  Indians,  the  inmates  massacred, 
and  the  property  taken  by  them.  Every  man  in  the 
boat  with  Tucker  was  killed,  and  Tucker  wounded 
mortally.  The  Indians  made  attempts  to  board  the 
boat,  but,  notwithstanding  he  was  wounded,  the 
women  loaded  the  guns,  and  Tucker  kept  up  a  con- 
stant fire  upon  them,  and  brought  off  the  boat  safe; 
but  before  they  landed  at  Limestone  he  expired, 
and  his  remains  quietly  repose  somewhere  in  that 
place.  Brother  James  O'Cull  assisted  in  burying 
him,  and  is  the  only  man  now  living  who  could 
designate  the  spot.  I  think  the  Kentucky  Confer- 
ence should  erect  a  monument  to  his  memory.  The 
other  was  shot  near  a  station  south  of  Green  River, 
not  far  from  the  present  town  of  Greensburg." 

The  Eev.  Jacob  Young,  himself  a  minister  for 
more  than  half  a  century,  gives  the  following  inter- 
esting account  in  his  Autobiography  :  * 

"We  had  a  great  and  good  quarterly  meeting  at 
Tucker's  Station,  near  Briceland's  Cross-roads,  be- 
tween Steubenville  and  Pittsburgh.  This  was  among 
the  oldest  stations  w^est  of  the  Alleghany  Moun- 
tains. Father  Tucker  was  living  here  at  the  time 
that  Adam  Poe  had  the  famous  battle  with  the 
Wyandot  chief,  'Big-foot.'     They  were  both  brave 

*  Autobiography  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  Young,  pp.  414,  415. 


INKENTUCKY.  77 

men  and  true  patriots.  '  Big-foot '  was  fighting  in 
the  defense  of  his  nation,  and  Poe  in  the  defense  of 
his  country.  This  was  certainly  a  dreadful  conflict. 
Both  gave  full  proof  of  their  natural  courage  and 
dexterity.  It  had  liked  to  have  proved  fatal  to 
hoth.  I  apprehend  the  Wyandots  were  a  noble 
race  of  men.  It  is  a  great  pity  the  world  cannot 
learn  more  of  their  nationality.  I  believe  that  the 
Poes  descended  from  an  excellent  stock:  we  had 
full  proof  of  this  in  the  high-minded  Daniel  Poe, 
who  died  a  martyr,  in  my  opinion,  in  doing  his  part 
to  evangelize  Texas.  A  Christian  soldier,  he  fell 
at  his  post ;  his  manly  form  lies  in  a  strange  land, 
and  his  sweet-spirited  missionary  wife  sleeps  by  his 
side.  Their  lovely  children  were  left  without  father 
or  mother,  but  were  not  forsaken  and  left  to  beg 
their  bread. 

"  Father  Tucker  resided  here  during  a  long,  dan- 
gerous, and  bloody  war  with  the  Indians ;  raised  a 
very  large  family,  but  one  of  w^hom  distinguished 
himself— I  think  his  name  was  William.*  His 
father  might  have  said  of  him,  as  old  Priam  said 
of  Hector,  that  William  was  the  wisest  and  best  of 
all  his  sons.  He  became  pious  when  he  was  very 
young,  and  before  he  was  twenty  years  of  age  com- 
menced preaching  the  gospel.  Although  born  and 
reared  on  the  frontiers,  by  close  and  constant  appli- 
cation he  acquired  a  pretty  good  English  education. 
He  bore  a  very  active  and  successful  part  in  trying 
to  civilize  and  Christianize  the  people  in  the  country 

'  *  The  Minutes  give  the  name  as  Samuel. 


78  METHODISM 

where   he   resided.     His   zeal   increased   with   his 
years ;  and,  while  he  was  yet  a  young  man,  he  vol- 
unteered as  a  missionary  to  go  to  Kentucky:    he 
well  knew  the  danger  to  which  he  would  be  ex- 
posed— for  the  Indian  war  w^as  raging  at  the  time 
in  its  most  dreadful  forms — hut  a  desire  to  save 
souls  elevated  him  above  the  fear  of  death.    While 
he  was  going  down  the  Ohio  River,  the  boat  in 
which  he  was  descending  was  attacked  by  a  large 
company  of  Indians,  and  as  he  was  well  acquainted 
with  the  mode  of  Indian  warfare,  he  took  the  super- 
vision of  all  the  boats  in  the  compan^^  and  had 
them  all  lashed  together  with  ropes.      Taking  his 
stand  in  the  middle  boat,  that  the  whole  company 
might  hear  the  word  of  command,  he  ordered  the 
women  and  children  to  keep  close  to  the  bottom  of 
the  boats,  lest  the  Indians  might  shoot  them,  and 
directed  the  men  to  arm  themselves  with  axes  and 
bars  of  iron,  etc.,  so  that,  if  the  Indians  attempted 
to  come  on  board,  they  might  mash  their  fingers 
and  hands.     In  this  way  they  crippled  many  of 
their  w^arriors,  and  defended  themselves  for  a  long 
time.     At  length,  the  cunning  Indians  found  out 
where  the  commander  stood,  and,  in  a  canoe,  got 
round  to  the  end  of  the  boat  where  the  steering-oar 
works,  and  shot  him  through  the  hole.     He  saw 
that  he  had  received  his  death-wound.     He  advised 
them  all  to  get  into  one  boat,  leave  their  property, 
and  try  to  save  their  lives.     Having  given  them  the 
best  direction  he  could,  he  kneeled  down,  made  his 
last  prayer,  and  expired.     They  made  their  escape 
from  the  Indians,  and  landed  at  Limestone,  where 


IN     KENTUCKY.  79 

they  buried  their  beloved  minister.  I  have  stood 
and  looked  at  his  grave  with  mingled  feeling.  I 
will  here  say  that  I  received  this  minute  informa- 
tion through  an  uncle  of  mine,  who  owned  one  of 
the  boats,  and  was  an  eye-w^itness  of  the  whole 
scene." 

The  Rev.  Lewis  Garrett,  in  his  ^' Eecollections 
of  the  West,"  p.  17,  in  referring  to  the  death  of  Mr. 
Tucker,  expresses  the  opinion  that  he  labored  the 
greater  portion  of  the  year  on  the  Limestone  Cir- 
cuit, and  near  its  close  returned  home  ''to  the  old 
settlements;"  and,  on  his  return  to  Kentucky,  was 
killed  by  the  Lidians.  He  sa3^s:  "  Samuel  Tucker, 
a  young  man,  who  was  this  year  (1790)  admitted 
on  trial  as  a  traveling  preacher,  was  remarkably 
successful  in  preaching  the  gospel :  he  was,  indeed, 
a  herald  of  the  cross ;  and  in  him  was  exemplified 
that  prediction,  'His  ministers  shall  be  a  flame  of 
fire.'  Under  his  labors  there  was  a  mighty  turning 
to  God,  and  these  were  days  of  grace,  and  times  of 
refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  But  his 
race  w^as  short,  and  his  work  soon  accomplished. 
Perhaps  about  the  close  of  this  year,  he  had  occa- 
sion to  go  to  the  old  settlements,  to  assist  in  remov- 
'^ing  some  of  his  relatives  or  friends.  In  descending 
the  Ohio  River,  the  boat,  laden  with  emigrants  to 
Kentucky,  was  fired  upon  by  the  Indians.  Mr. 
Tucker  received  a  mortal  wound;  but  report  said 
that  he  fought  with  valor  and  much  presence  of 
mind,  so  that  the  boat  was  saved — but  he  died  soon 
after,  rejoicing  in  God." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Stevenson,  in  his  "  Fragments  from 


80  M  E  T  H  0  D  I  S  31 

the  Sketch-book  of  au  Itinerant,"  after  alluding  to 
the  voyage  of  his  father  down  the  Ohio  River  to 
Kentuck}',  gives  the  following  account  of  the  mur- 
der of  Mr.  Tucker : 

"Widely  different,  however,  was  the  fate  of  the 
next  lot  of  boats  that  attempted  the  same  dangerous 
passage.  A  little  below  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto, 
they  were  attacked  by  the  Indians,  in  great  num- 
bers, from  both  sides  of  the  river,  as  well  as  from 
their  numerous  bark  canoes  in  the  stream  itself. 
Two  of  the  boats  were  soon  overpowered  by  supe- 
rior force,  and  an  indiscriminate  slaughter  of  men, 
women,  and  children  ensued.  The  third  and  only 
remaining  boat  of  the  company  was  closely  pursued 
for  several  hours.  At  times  the  issue  of  the  con- 
flict was  considered  doubtful.  The  most  of  their 
active  and  valorous  men  were  either  killed  or 
wounded,  and  their  remaining  force  was  by  no 
means  sufficient  to  manage  the  oars  and  success- 
fully resist  a  direct  assault  from  their  blood-thirsty 
pursuers.  The  women,  however,  at  length,  came 
forth  to  the  rescue  from  their  places  of  security  and 
protection.  Some  took  the  oars,  and  others  com- 
menced reloading  the  guns,  leaving  the  few  fighting 
men,  who  had  been  mercifully  preserved  from  the 
balls  of  the  enemy,  with  nothing  to  do  but  to  watch 
the  movements  of  the  insidious  foe,  fire  to  the  best 
advantage,  and  as  often  as  they  pleased.  It  was  a 
long  and  hard-fought  battle.  The  Indians,  at  length, 
beean  to  haul  ofi":  the  fire  from  the  boat  had  become 
too  constant  and  well-directed  to  meet  their  views, 
and  soon  the  last  warlike  craft  disappeared  on  the 


IN     KENTUCKY.  gl 

distant  waters,  and  the  poor  bullet-riven  boat  was 
left  to  float  on  without  farther  molestation.  Early 
the  next  day,  they  landed  at  the  'Point.'  My 
father  was  among  the  first  on  board.  The  scene 
was  inexpressibly  horrible.  The  living,  as  well  as 
the  dead  and  dying,  were  literally  covered  with 
blood.  Among  the  latter  was  a  Mr.  Tucker,  a 
respectable  local  preacher*  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
He  had  received  a  mortal  wound  in  his  chest,  soon 
after  the  commencement  of  the  attack;  but,  nothing 
daunted  by  the  near  and  certain  approach  of  death, 
he  continued  to  fight  on — loading  and  firing  his 
own  long  rifle,  until  his  fading  vision  shut  out  the 
enemy  from  his  sight.  He  breathed  his  last,  in 
submission  to  the  Divine  will,  soon  after  the  boat 
reached  the  landing,  and  was  buried  by  my  father 
and  others,  amid  the  lofty  forest  trees  that  then 
overhung,  in  primitive  grandeur  and  sublimity,  the 
beautiful  bottom  where  now  the  tide  of  business 
and  commerce  rolls  on  unmindful  of  the  past.  The 
place  of  his  interment  is  known  to  none  now  living. 
The  light  of  eternity  will  alone  reveal  the  hallowed 
spot."t 

It  is  proper  to  state  that  Dr.  Stevens,  in  his  His- 
tory of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  quoting 
from  an  article  in  the  Methodist  Magazine  for  1819, 
written  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hinde,  fixes  the  date  of  the 
murder  of  Mr.  Tucker  in  1784.  Dr.  Stevens  says : 
"As  early  as  1784,  local  preachers  began  to  enter  it 

*He  was  a  traveling  preacher.  Wis  name  stands  on  the  General 
Minutes,  Vol.  I.,  p.  37. 

t  Nashville  Christian  Advocate,  Oct.  9,  1856. 


82  METHODISM 

(Kentucky),  both  as  settlers  and  as  pioneers  of  their 
faith.  In  this  year,  one  of  them,  by  the  name  of 
Tucker,  while  descending  the  Ohio  in  a  boat,  with 
a  number  of  his  kindred — men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren— Was  fired  upon  by  the  Indians :  a  battle  en- 
sued; the  preacher  was  immediately  wounded;  but, 
falling  upon  his  knees,  prayed  and  fought  till,  by  his 
self-possession  and  courage,  the  boat  was  rescued. 
He  then  immediately  expired,  shouting  the  praise 
of  the  Lord."  Mr.  Hinde,  to  whom  we  are  indebted 
so  largely  for  his  interesting  Sketches  of  Early 
Western  Methodism,  has  doubtless  fallen  into  an 
error  as  to  the  time  of  the  massacre  of  Mr.  Tucker. 
From  the  Minutes  of  the  Conference,  as  well  as 
from  the  testimony  of  the  Eev.  Lewis  Garrett,  we 
learn  that  he  was  admitted  on  trial  into  the  traveling 
connection  in  1790 ;  and  the  Rev.  William  Burke 
refers  to  him  as  a  traveling  preacher.*  Rev.  Jacob 
Young  says,  ^'He  volunteered  as  a  missionary  to  go 
to  Kentucky."!  As  no  missionaries  were  sent  to 
Kentucky  previous  to  1786,  the  date  of  Mr.  Hinde, 
as  quoted  by  Dr.  Stevens,  must  be  incorrect.  We 
are  also  convinced  that  the  Rev.  Lewis  Garrett  is 
mistaken  in  the  belief  he  expresses,  that  Mr.  Tucker 
had  spent  the  year,  until  "about  its  close,"  on  his 
circuit  in  Kentucky.  His  useful  labors,  to  which 
he  makes  such  touching  reference,  must  have  been 
"in  the  country  in  which  he  resided,"  where,  the 
Rev.  Jacob  Young  informs  us,  "he  bore  a  very 
active  and  successful  part  in  trying  to  civilize  and 

*  Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,  p.  44. 
f  Autobiography,  p.  415. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  83 

Christianize  tlie  people,"  before  "  he  volunteered  as 
a  missionary  to  go  to  Kentucky."  From  all,  how- 
ever, we  can  learn  concerning  him,  he  was  reared 
amid  the  dangers  of  Indian  warfare  ;  "became  pious 
when  very  young,  and,  before  he  was  twenty  years 
of  age,  commenced  preaching  the  gospel."  In  the 
work  of  the  ministry  he  was  remarkable  for  his 
zeal,  and  cheerfully  left  home  and  friends  that  he 
might  aid  in  the  erection  of  the  temple  of  Method- 
ism in  Kentucky.  But  God  ordered  otherwise. 
The  spot  where  he  was  to  commence  his  labors  was 
to  be  the  scene  where  his  final  triumph  would  be 
witnessed.  It  may  be  that  the  "shout  of  joy" 
which  fell  from  his  lips  so  soon  after  the  boat  on 
which  he  lay  dying  landed  at  Limestone,  in  the 
hearing  of  those  to  whom  he  had  been  appointed  to 
"proclaim  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ,"  made 
an  impression  more  enduring  than  might  have  been 
made  by  his  labors,  if  he  had  lived.  The  Minutes 
of  the  next  year  make  no  mention  of  his  death. 

This  year,  Thomas  Williamson,  who  left  Ken- 
tucky in  1789,  returned,  and  was  appointed  to  the 
Danville  Circuit,  where  he  remained  for  two  years ; 
and,  having  "  literally  worn  himself  out  in  traveling 
and  preaching,"*  asked  for  a  location.  During  all 
the  period  of  his  connection  with  the  itinerancy,  he 
was  a  very  successful  preacher.  He  ended  his  days 
in  great  peace,  near  Lexington:  the  precise  time 
of  his  death,  however,  is  not  known. 

Allusion  has  already  been  made  to  the  revival  of 

*  Western  Methodism,  p.  68. 


84  METHODISM 

religion  with  which  the  first  Conference  in  Kentucky 
was  blessed.  The  summer  and  autumn  of  the  pre- 
vious year  had  passed  away  amid  extraordinary 
manifestations  of  Divine  power.  Under  the  min- 
istry of  the  word,  hundreds  were  convinced  of  sin, 
and  bowed  before  the  cross,  and  the  shouts  of  tri- 
umph had  ascended  to  heaven  from  souls  converted 
to  God.  The  spring  of  1790  exhibited  no  abate- 
ment of  religious  interest  or  prosperity.  Wherever 
the  gospel  was  preached,  the  presence  of  the  Lord 
was  manifested,  and  his  power  felt.  Indian  depre- 
dations and  cruelties  were  of  common  occurrence. 
The  noble  Tucker  had  fallen  by  their  hands,  but 
nothing  daunted,  these  preachers  of  the  cross,  true 
to  their  obligations  and  their  trust,  shunned  no 
danger  in  the  performance  of  duty.  They  inscribed 
''success"  upon  their  banners,  and  they  achieved 
it.  They  preached  a  present  Saviour :  they  expected 
immediate  results,  and  were  only  satisfied  with  the 
realization  of  their  hopes  and  wishes. 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  they  report  one  thousand 
five  hundred  and  fifty-three  members,  being  an  in- 
crease over  the  former  year  of  four  hundred  and 
sixty-three — the  largest  of  any  year  since  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Church  in  Kentucky. 

The  Methodist  Church  in  Kentucky,  anxious  to 
aid  in  the  educational  interests  of  the  District,  was 
the  first  of  the  Christian  denominations  to  under- 
take any  movement  that  looked  to  the  establishment 
of  an  institution  of  learning.  At  the  Conference 
held  in  April  of  this  year,  at  Masterson's  Station, 
Bishop  Asbury  says:  "We  fixed  a  plan  for  a  school, 


IN    KENTUCKY.  85 

and  called  it  Bethel^  and  obtained  a  subscription  of 
upward  of  three  hundred  pounds  in  land  and  money 
toward  its  establishment."  It  was  "principally 
built  through  the  influence  and  exertions  of  the 
Rev.  Francis  Poythress,  the  first  Presiding  Elder  on 
the  Lexington  District."*  It  was  located  in  Jessa- 
mine county,  and  stood  on  a  high  bluff  on  the 
Kentucky  River.  The  Rev.  William  Burke,  in  his 
Autobiography,  published  in  "Sketches  of  Western 
Methodism,"  pp.  42,  43,  in  referring  to  Bethel 
Academy,  says : 

"In  the  county  of  Jessamine,  situated  on  the 
cliffs,  was  Bethel  Academy,  built  entirely  by  sub- 
scriptions raised  on  the  circuits.  One  hundred 
acres  of  land  were  given  by  Mr.  Lewis  as  the  site 
for  the  academy.  The  project  originated  with  Mr. 
Asbury,  Francis  Poythress,  Isaac  Hite,  of  Jeffer- 
son; Col.  Hyde,  of  Nelson;  Willis  Green,  of  Lin- 
coln ;  Richard  Masterson,  of  Fayette,  and  Mr. 
Lewis,  of  Jessamine.  A  spacious  building  was 
erected — I  think,  eighty  by  forty  feet,  three  stories 
high.  The  design  was  to  accommodate  the  students 
in  the  house  with  boarding,  etc.  The  first  and  sec- 
ond stories  were  principally  finished,  and  a  spacious 
hall  in  the  center.  The  building  of  this  house  ren- 
dered the  pecuniary  means  of  the  preachers  very 
uncertain,  for  they  were  continually  employed  in 
begging  for  Bethel,  The  people  were  very  liberal, 
but  they  could  not  do  more  than  they  did.  The 
country  was  new,  and  the  unsettled  state   of  the 

*Eev.  Jonathan  Stamper,  in  Home  Circle,  Vol.  I.,  p.  360. 


86  METHODISM 

people,  in  consequence  of  the  Indian  wars  and  dep- 
redations, kept  the  country  in  a  continual  state  of 
agitation.  The  legislature,  at  an  early  period,  made 
a  donation  of  six  thousand  acres  of  land  to  Bethel 
Academy.  The  land  was  located  in  Christian 
county,  south  of  Green  River,  and  remained  a  long 
time  unproductive  ;  and  while  I  continued  a  trustee, 
till  1804,  it  remained  rather  a  bill  of  expense  than 
otherwise.  In  1803,  I  was  appointed  by  the  West- 
ern Conference  to  attend  the  legislature  and  obtain 
an  act  of  incorporation.  I  performed  that  duty, 
and  Bethel  was  incorporated,  with  all  the  powers 
and  privileges  of  a  literary  institution.  From  that 
time,  I  was  removed  to  such  a  distance  that  my 
connection  with  the  academy  ceased.  The  Rev. 
Valentine  Cook  was  the  first  that  organized  the 
academical  department;  and  at  first  the  prospect 
was  flattering.  A  number  of  students  were  in 
attendance  ;  but  difliculties  occurred  which  it  would 
be  needless  to  mention,  as  all  the  parties  concerned 
have  gone  to  give  an  account  at  a  higher  tribunal ; 
but  such  w^as  the  eflect  that  the  school  soon  de- 
clined, and  Brother  Cook  abandoned  the  project." 
However  much  we  may  lament  the  fate  of  the 
Bethel  Academy,  it  affords  us  pleasure  to  look  back 
to  that  early  day,  when  Kentucky  was  only  a  Dis- 
trict, not  having  been  admitted  as  one  of  the  States 
into  the  Union,  and  behold  that  noble  little  band  of 
Methodists,  with  only  six  preachers  and  less  than 
one  thousand  Church-members  under  their  super- 
vision, laying  the  foundations  of  educational  enter- 
prise,   and    projecting    schemes    for    the    literary 


IN    KENTUCKY.  87 

advancement  of  the  rising  generation.  They  looked 
to  the  future.  Thej^  plainly  foresaw  the  coming 
prosperity  and  glory  of  the  State ;  and  if  Meth- 
odism would  occupy  its  proper  place  with  sister 
Churches  in  the  res^ards  and  esteem  of  a  free  and 
prosperous  people — if  their  lahors  would  be  crowned 
with  permanent  success — the  supporting  layer  on 
which  they  must  build,  must  necessarily  embrace  in 
its  provisions  the  literary  culture,  as  well  as  the 
moral  and  religious  instruction,  of  the  youth  of  the 
country.  Methodism  has  ever  been  friendly  to 
education,  as  sanctified  learning  has  ever  been  the 
handmaid  of  religion.  Rejecting  the  theory  that 
no  man  should  preach  the  gospel  of  Christ,  whose 
literary  attainments  are  not  of  the  highest  classical 
character,  Methodism,  at  the  same  time,  has  num- 
bered among"  her  ministers  in  Kentucky  many  who 
have  stood  preeminently  high  for  their  scholastic 
attainments;  whilst,  among  her  large  and  rapidly 
increasing  membership,  in  the  learned  professions, 
and  in  the  higher  walks  of  life,  she  is  ably  repre- 
sented in  every  community.  At  this  early  day, 
many  of  the  most  influential  families  in  the  State 
had  entered  her  communion,  amongst  whom  were 
the  names  of  Hardin,  Thomas,  Hite,  Lewis,  Eas- 
land,  Masterson,  Kavanaugh,  Tucker,  Eichardson, 
Letamore,  Brown,  Garrett,  Churchill,  Jeffries,  TVick- 
liffe,  Hoard* — names,  most  of  which  are  prom- 
inently known  at  the  present  time  in  Kentucky 
Methodism. 

*  Western  Methodism,  p.  66. 


88  METHODISM 

The  failure  of  the  Bethel  Academy  to  meet  the 
wants  and  wishes  of  the  Church,  did  not,  by  any 
means,  paralyze  their  efforts,  or  shake  them  in  their 
purpose  to  succeed.  It  seemed  only  to  fit  them  for 
new  and  untried  exertion,  at  another  point,  where 
we  shall  meet  them  again  arduously  laboring  to 
accomplish  the  same  ends. 

At  the  Conference  in  1791,  the  Minutes  report 
the  same  number  of  circuits  as  the  former  year. 
The  name  of  the  Madison  Circuit,  however,  does 
not  appear,  it  having  been  absorbed  in  the  Danville; 
and  the  Salt  River  Circuit  is  added.  There  is  also 
one  preacher  less  this  year. 

The  circuits,  at  that  date,  were  not  of  the  conve- 
nient size  in  which  the  minister  who  now  enters  the 
itinerant  field  finds  them. 

^'  The  Limestone  Circuit  lay  on  the  north  side  of 
Licking  Eiver.  It  included  Mason  and  Fleming 
counties.*  It  was  bounded  on  the  east,  south,  and 
west,  by  the  frontier  settlements,  and  on  the  north 
by  the  Ohio  River. 

'-^Lexington  Circuit  contained  the  counties  of  Fay- 
ette, Jessamine,  Woodford,  Franklin,  Scott,  and 
Harrison — bounded  on  the  east  and  north  by  the 
Ilinkstone  Circuit,  and  on  the  west  by  the  frontiers. 
Frankfort,  now  the  seat  of  government,  was  then  a 
frontier  station. 


■^Several  of  the  counties  mentioned  were  not  formed  at  this  date. 
Previous  to  1792,  only  nine  counties  had  been  formed,  namely, 
Fayette,  Jefferson,  Lincoln,  Nelson,  Bourbon,  Madison,  Mercer, 
Woodford,  and  Mason.  Mr.  Burke  means  the  territory  embraced  in 
these  counties  when  formed. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  89 

"•Salt  River  Oircuit,  the  most  difficult  in  the  bounds 
of  the  Conference,  included  "Washington,  IS'elson, 
Jefferson,  Shelby,  and  Green  counties — bounded  on 
the  north  by  the  Kentucky  River;  on  the  east  by 
Danville  Circuit;  on  the  south  by  the  frontier  set- 
tlements on  Green  River,  including  where  Greens- 
burg  and  Elizabethtown  are  now  situated. 

'^ Danville  Circuit  included  Mercer,  Lincoln,  Gar- 
rard, and  Madison  counties.  The  west  part  of  the 
circuit  included  the  head-waters  of  Salt  River  and 
Chaplin  on  the  north,  and  bounded  by  the  Ken- 
tucky River  south  and  east,  extended  as  far  as  the 
settlements."* 

The  Cumberland  Circuit  lay  chiefly  in  Tennessee. 
It  extended,  however,  into  Kentucky,  and  embraced, 
besides  Middle  Tennessee,  what  is  now  known  as 
Logan,  "Warren,  and  Simpson  counties.  To  travel 
through  so  large  a  territory ;  to  preach  almost  daily  ; 
to  form  societies,  and  to  perform  other  duties  that 
belong  to  the  profession  of  the  ministry,  required 
an  amount  of  labor  to  which  but  few  men  are  equal, 
and  which,  in  a  short  time,  would  impair  the  health 
of  the  most  stalwart. 

Joseph  Tatman  was  admitted  on  trial  into  the 
Conference  this  year,  and  appointed  to  Danville 
Circuit,  as  colleague  to  Thomas  Williamson.  He 
only  traveled  one  year.  At  the  next  Conference, 
his  name  disappears  from  the  Minutes,  after  which 
all  trace  of  him  is  lost. 

In   a   previous   chapter,   we    have    shown    that, 

^Burke's  Autobiography. 


90  METHODISM 

although  the  General  Minutes  announce  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  Rev.  Barnabas  McHenrj  to  the  Cum- 
berland Circuit,  in  1788,  he  did  not  take  charge 
of  this  work  until  1791.  This  year  he  leaves 
Kentucky,  to  cultivate  "Immanuel's  lands"  else- 
where. 

During  the  three  years  of  his  absence  from  Ken- 
tucky, his  labors  were  abundant.  The  first  was 
spent  on  the  Cumberland  Circuit;  the  second  as 
Presiding  Elder  over  the  Holston,  Green,  I^ew 
River,  and  Russell  Circuits,  spreading  over  a  vast 
extent  of  territory  in  Virginia  and  Tennessee ;  the 
third  as  the  Presiding  Eider  over  the  Bedford, 
Bottetourt,  Greenbrier,  and  Cow  Pasture  Circuits,  in 
Western  Virginia.  In  1794,  he  returns  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  is  appointed  to  the  Salt  River  Circuit — 
the  most  laborious  in  the  Conference.  During  this 
year  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Hardin,  daughter 
of  Col.  John  Hardin ;  and,  at  the  close  of  the  year, 
located,  and,  in  that  sphere,  for  many  years  ren- 
dered valuable  service  to  the  Church. 

Before  parting  with  Barnabas  McHenry  for  the 
present,  we  will  quote  a  letter  written  by  him  to  the 
Rev.  Lewis  Garrett,*  which  will  be  read  with  inter- 
est, and  convey  to  us  a  correct  idea  of  the  toils, 
the  privations,  and  the  dangers  endured  by  those 
devoted  men  on  whose  labors  we  have  entered : 

"Mount  Pleasant,  near  Springfield,  Ky.,  May  15,  1823. 

"Dear  Brother: — After  the  reception  of  your 
favor  of  the  24th  of  March,  rummaging  some  of  my 

*  Recollections  of  the  West,  pp.  92-101. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  91 

old  papers,  I  found  a  journal,  (or  fragment  of  a  jour- 
nal,) including  a  part  of  the  first  year  of  my  itinerant 
labors  in  what  is  now  West  Tennessee,  then  called 
Cumberland  Circuit. 

'^In  company  with  Brother  James  O'Cull,  I  reached 
Philip  Trammell's,  on  one  of  the  forks  of  Eed 
River,  not  very  far  from  the  place  which  has  since 
been  called  '  Cheek's  Tavern,'  on  Wednesday, 
May  25,  1791.  The  circuit  was  a  four-weeks'  cir- 
cuit. Clarksville,  nea,r  the  mouth  of  Red  River, 
was  the  lower  extremity  of  the  circuit,  and  of  the 
settleineiiL  We  had  one  stage  between  that  and 
Prince's  Chapel,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Sulphur 
Fork ;  we  had  one  or  two  preaching-places  up  the 
fork,  besides  one  on  Whip-poor-will,  a  large  creek 
that  falls  into  it  on  the  north  side;  whence  we  pro- 
ceeded on,  or  near,  to  the  northern  limits  of  the 
settlement,  (which  did  not  then  include  all  the  upper 
waters  of  Red  River,)  preaching  at  a  few  places 
where  we  had  some  societies,  till,  some  distance 
above  Trammell's,  we  turned  across  to  Sumner 
Court-house,  which  was  a  cahin  near  Station  Camp 
Creek.  The  upper  end  of  the  circuit  was  the  east- 
ern extremity  of  the  settlement.  Col.  Isaac  Bledsoe's, 
near  Bledsoe's  Lick.  The  population,  for  some 
miles  down,  consisted  of  a  narrow  string  between 
the  river  and  the  ridge.  Indeed,  there  w^as  then  no 
population  on  the  south  side  of  Cumberland  River, 
^tsTashville  and  a  very  small  part  of  the  adjacent 
country  excepted.  There  were  but  four  regular 
preaching-places  on  that  side  of  the  river,  although 
the  preachers  aimed  so  to  regulate  their  stages  that 


92  METHODISM 

all  the  inliabitants  of  the  country  should  have 
circuit-preaching  convenient  to  them.  I  do  not  re- 
member a  single  instance  of  their  refusing  to  visit 
any  neighborhood,  nor  even  any  station,  on  account 
of  danger,  though,  in  some  instances,  guai^ds  met 
them,  where  risk  was  thought  to  be  uncommonly 
great. 

"I  find  in  my  old  journal  the  following,  viz. :  As  I 
had  no  company  on  Monda}^,  18th  of  July,  I  yielded 
to  persuasion,  and  deferred  riding  up  to  Col.  San- 
ders's until  the  next  day.  And  perhaps  it  was  well 
I  did ;  for,  not  far  to  the  right  of  the  way  I  must 
have  gone,  the  Indians  fired  upon  four  persons  that 
evening,  and  killed  Mr.  Jones.  Again :  Thurs- 
day, August  4th : — The  guard  did  not  meet  me  at 
Mr.  Hogan's,  according  to  promise ;  so  I  tarried 
here  till  Saturday,  etc. 

"I  happened  to  be  in  the  same  part  of  the  circuit, 
w^hen  a  man  much  beloved — Maj.  George  Winches- 
ter— was  killed  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  place 
where  Gallatin  now  stands. 

"In  one  case  the  hand  of  God  has  appeared  to  me 
so  evident  in  my  preservation,  that  I  cannot  think 
it  improper  to  give  you  the  circumstances  in  detail. 
I  have  told  you  that  Clarksville  was  the  extreme 
point  of  the  settlement  down  the  river.  Mr.  Den- 
ning's,  where  I  put  up,  was  the  upper  house  in  the 
place — a  cabin,  standing  fifty  or  sixty  yards  (I  con- 
jecture) from  any  other,  near  the  bank,  having  the 
door  fronting  the  river.  Being  much  engaged  with 
a  book  that  had  just  fallen  into  my  hands,  when 
others  had  retired  to  rest  one  night,  I  again  sat 


IN     KENTUCKY.  93 

down  to  read,  with  my  face  toward  the  door ;  the 
table  upon  which  my  candle  was  placed  standing  by 
the  wall,  between  me  and  the  door.  Observing  that 
the  door  was  not  closely  shut,  I  rose,  shut  and 
bolted  it,  or  rather  barred  it,  and  again  sat  down  to 
my  book  till  quite  late.  The  next  day,  I  preached 
in  one  of  the  cabins  in  the  town,  (as  it  was  even 
then  called,)  intending  to  spend  the  following  night 
at  Mr.  Denning's,  for  the  purpose  of  reading ;  but 
a  young  gentleman  having  come  about  fifteen  miles, 
in  order  to  ride  with  me  that  afternoon,  I  changed 
my  purpose,  and  went  on  with  him.  That  very 
night  the  Indians  attacked  the  house  of  Mr.  Den- 
ning. Firing  in  at  the  door,  which  was  standing  a 
little  open,  (as  it  had  stood  the  preceding  night,) 
they  shot  a  Mr.  Boyd,  who  was  sitting,  or  in  some 
way  resting,  on  the  table,  standing  in  the  very  place 
where  it  had  stood  when  I  sat  reading  at  the  end  of 
it.  It  afterward  appeared  (the  Indians  relating  it 
themselves  to  a  white  man  with  whom  they  were 
acquainted,  and  whom  they  met  in  the  Spanish  ter- 
ritory, where  they  were  professedly  at  peace)  that 
they  had  crossed  the  river  the  night  before  on  pur- 
pose to  murder  the  people  in  that  house ;  but, 
growing  fearful  that  there  were  too  many  men  in 
it,  they  shrunk  from  the  attempt,  lay  concealed  all 
the  next  day,  and  at  night  rose  and  made  the 
assault. 

"  Had  I  tarried  there  that  night,  as  I  had  designed 
to  do  if  Mr.  Pennington  had  not  come  to  meet  me, 
I  had  in  all  likelihood  been  their  mark,  sitting  with 
my  breast  toward  them,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 


94  METHODISM 

candle,  within  a  few  feet  of  the  muzzles  of  their 
guns.  And  how  probahle  is  it,  that,  if  the  door 
had  not  been  noticed  and  closely  shut  the  preceding 
night,  the  light  of  the  candle  would  have  invited 
their  approach.  It  would  have  shown,  at  a  late 
hour,  both  that  all  was  still,  and  that  there  was  a 
favorable  opportunity  of  looking  in.  But  the  hairs 
of  my  head  were  niimhered.  The  Strength  of  Israel 
was  my  refuge. 

"Although  blood  continued  to  flow,  from  time  to 
time,  till  I  left  the  circuit,  in  April,  1792,  the  coun- 
try was  not  by  any  means  as  it  had  before  been — 
particularly  in  1789,  when  Brother  Thomas  "Wil- 
liamson was  on  the  circuit.  He  was  my  intimate 
and  particular  friend,  and  gave  me  by  letter  an 
affecting  history  of  their  perilous  situation.  He 
expressed  his  doubts  whether  he  would  ever  see  me 
*any  more  in  this  world,*  as  God  permitted  the 
barbarous  enemy  to  slay  the  righteous  with  the 
wicked.  He  mentioned  two  or  three  young  men 
who  had  been  powerfully  converted,  and  soon  after- 
ward murdered.  But  I  have  to  regret  that  I  have 
not  preserved  any  of  his  letters. 

"In  that  country,  and  in  iliis,  the  course  pursued  by 
the  circuit-preachers  was  pretty  much  the  same,  and 
so  likewise  were  their  dangers  and  their  difficulties. 
They  had  counted  the  cost,  and  no  form  in  which 
Death  or  any  of  his  precursors  presented  seemed  to 
appall  them.  Each  circuit  in  Kentucky  embraced 
dangerous  frontiers,  in  w^hich,  in  some  places,  paths 
made  by  stock  or  wild  beasts  might  lead  the  trav- 
eler astray.     By  one  of  these,  in  the  summer  of 


IN    KENTUCKY.  95 

1788,  Brother  Wilson  Lee  was  conducted  so  far 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  settlement  that  he  had  to 
spend  a  dreary  night  in  the  wilderness  alone.  One 
of  the  preachers  appointed  to  Danville  Circuit,  in 
the  spring  of  1789,  was  quietly  enjoying  his  nightly 
repose,  about  a  mile  from  the  place  where  I  now 
write,  when  a  company  of  Indians,  not  far  from  the 
little  cabin  in  which  he  lay,  were  catching  the 
horses  which  the  family  had  ridden  home  from 
meeting  late  that  evening.  In  the  course  of  that 
year,  "William  Wilson  and  Charles  Burks,  two  class- 
leaders  belonging  to  the  circuit,  were  killed.  In 
some  places  the  preachers  could  not  retire  to  the 
woods  or  fields  for  the  purpose  of  reading,  medita- 
tion, and  prayer,  without  probable  danger  of  being 
shot  or  tomahawked.  This  was  the  more  sensibl}^ 
felt,  as  the  houses  in  such  places  afforded  little  or 
no  convenience  for  retirement.  Our  '  advantao^es ' 
consisted  principally  in  peace  and  love.  United  in 
the  holy  fellowship  of  the  gospel  ministry,  we  were, 
in  a  great  measure,  of  one  heart  and  of  one  sold.  The 
same  spirit,  in  no  small  degree,  happily  pervaded 
our  societies.  We  served  a  simple-hearted,  teach- 
able people,  who  received  us  as  the  messengers  of 
God.  The  Churches,  augmenting  by  an  accession 
of  members  of  this  description,  wq^vq  ^  our  glory  and 
joy;'  though,  in  weariness  and  painfulness,  in 
watchings  often,  in  hunger  and  thirst,  in  fasting 
often,  in  cold  and  nakedness,  (tattered  raiment,) 
we  'eat  our'  coarse  fare  'with  gladness  and  single- 
ness of  heart,  praising  God,  and  having  favor  with 
the  people.' 


96  METHODISM 

"You  will  see,  by  an  extract  of  a  letter  in  the  Ar- 
minian  Magazine,  Vol.  II.,  p.  202,  that  Brother 
James  Haw  went  from  this  country  to  Cumberland 
in  August,  1788 ;  and  that  he  and  Brother  Massie 
were  there  in  the  following  wdnter.  They  remained 
there  till  the  next  spring. 

"  Soon  after  I  reached  the  Kentucky  settlement — 
which  was  on  the  11th  of  June,  1788 — Brother  Haw 
formed  the  design  of  placing  me  on  Cumberland 
Circuit,  to  which  he  then  intended  to  accompany 
me,  and  make  a  short  stay ;  but,  before  he  had  exe- 
cuted his  purpose,  he  w^as  superseded  by  Brother 
Poythress.  The  consequence  was,  that  Brothers 
Haw  and  Massie  went  to  Cumberland,  and  I  con- 
tinued in  Kentucky  that  year,  according  to  the 
original  intention  of  that  appointment.  Brother 
Haw,  it  would  seem,  communicated  his  arrange- 
ments previous  to  the  printing  of  the  Minutes, 
which  occasioned  my  name  to  be  inserted  as  ap- 
pointed to  Cumberland  Circuit.  Brother  Combs 
never  went  there.  He  was  taken  sick,  and  de- 
sisted from  traveling.  Brother  Haw  did  not  travel 
much  in  1790.  For  particulars  respecting  his  latter 
years,  I  refer  you  to  Brother  John  Page.  Brother 
Ogden  married  in  Kentucky,  in  the  spring  of  1788, 
and  immediately  started  to  the  eastward.  He  re- 
turned in  the  latter  end  of  1790,  and  has  been  a 
citizen  of  this  country  ever  since.  At  one  period, 
influenced  by  considerations  which  I  am  not  pre- 
pared to  explain,  he  withdrew  from  the  Church ; 
and,  after  continuing  several  years  not  regularly 
connected  with  any  religious  community,  rejoined 


IN     KENTUCKY.  97 

it.  The  latest  account,  he  was  living  near  Eddy- 
ville,  a  local  preacher.  Probably  Brother  Ilolliday 
can  give  you  some  account  of  him.  His  son,  John 
Wesley  Ogden,  occupies  the  pulpit,  we  are  told, 
among  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians. 

*'A  few  years  ago — I  think  it  was  in  1818 — ^Brother 
Poythress  died,  insane^  in  Jessamine  county,  Ken- 
tucky, about  twelve  miles  from  Lexington,  at  the 
house  of  his  sister,  Mrs.  Susanna  Pryor,  with  whom 
he  had  lived,  in  a  state  of  derangement^  for  a  consid- 
erable time.  My  acquaintance  with  him  began  in 
the  forty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  (as  he  told  me  in 
July,  1788.)  I  have  long  thought  that  his  mental 
powers  had  even  then  begun  to  fail.  Be  that  as  it 
may,  his  mind  was  certainly  sinking,  though  sink- 
ing very  gradually,  for  several  years  before.  In  the 
fall  of  1800,  if  I  remember  rightly,  he  retired  from 
the  work.  His  exemplary  piety,  his  zealous  and 
useful  labors,  and  his  faithful  (I  do  not  say  able)  at- 
tention to  the  duties  of  his  station,  secured  to  him 
a  degree  of  confidence  and  affection  which  made 
most  of  his  friends  blind  to  his  condition.  When  he 
left  his  District,  he  came  to  his  sister's  without  much 
delay,  and,  excepting  a  little  while  that  he  spent  in 
Lexington,  about  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1801, 
continued  there  the  remainder  of  his  days. 

"At  an  early  stage  of  his  total  derangement,  he 
conceived  an  opinion  that  he  never  had  been  pious. 
He  said  that  he  had  been  sincere  in  his  religious  pro- 
fession, but  had  always  been  mistaken  in  thinking 
that  he  was  a  Christian.  In  combating  this  opin- 
ion,  his  friends  sometimes   drew  from    him    the 

VOL.  I.— 4 


98  METHODISM 

strongest  arguments,  as  he  conceived,  which  recol- 
lection could  sujDply,  to  prove  that  he  must  have 
been  radically  wicked  even  in  his  last  days.  Some 
have  thought  that  on  these  occasions  he  furnished 
divine  proof  of  the  uprightness  of  his  character. 
His  memory  was  unimpaired ;  and  it  was  thought 
that  the  man  must  be  circumspect  indeed  who  knew 
nothing  worse  of  himself.  He  had  a  strange  notion 
that  he  was  suffering  under  the  operation  of  a  ma- 
lignant influence  proceeding  from  mankind  en  masse, 
and  even  those  who  as  individuals  regarded  him 
with  good-will  were  somehow  compelled  to  aid  in 
inflicting  the  evil. 

"My  helper  on  Cumberland  Circuit,  Brother 
O'Cull,  labored  with  great  zeal  till  some  time  in  the 
fall  of  1791,  when  he  broke  himself  down  so  en- 
tirely that  he  has  never  recovered  to  this  day. 
True,  he  sometimes  preaches — and  preaches,  I  am 
told,  in  a  very  impressive  strain — but  he  has  to 
speak  slowly  and  in  a  very  soft  tone  of  voice.  In- 
deed, it  is  in  this  manner  only  that  he  can  hold  con- 
versation. He  resides  in  Fleming  county,  in  the 
northern  part  of  this  State,  and  has  reared  a  family. 
After  he  broke  down.  Brother  Stephen  Brooks,  by 
the  direction  of  the  Presiding  Elder,  took  his  place 
on  the  Cumberland  Circuit  till  next  spring. 

"  In  1794, 1  succeeded  Brother  Lurton,  in  August, 
and  returned  in  JSTovember,  being  superseded  by 
Aquila  Sugg.  I  recollect  nothing  worth  relating 
that  fell  under  my  notice  in  Cumberland  Circuit, 
that  year.  Moses  Spear  was  the  helper.  He  lives 
somewhere  in  your  bounds,  I  believe.     Perhaps  you 


I  N     K  E  N  T  U  C  K  Y .  99 

can  get  some  useful  information  from  liim.  My 
health  suffered  frequent  interruptions  in  the  past 
winter.  An  intermittent  headache  in  the  month  of 
March  reduced  me  very  much.  I  am  still  exceed- 
ingly feehle,  hut  try  to  preach  at  least  every  Sab- 
bath. My  family  are  in  common  health.  I  know 
but  little  about  the  state  of  religion  in  the  bounds 
of  this  Conference.  My  expectations  are  not 
elated.  I  think  a  great  change  in  the  ministry 
must  take  place  before  we  shall  see  days  of  general 
prosperity.  Pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem.  God 
hath  not  cast  away  his  people.  Ma}^  he  speedily 
revisit  us,  and  cause  our  reproach  to  be  rolled  away ! 
"  I  am  3'ours  in  Christ  Jesus, 

"Barnabas  McHeney." 

We  now  part  for  several  years  with  this  distin- 
guished preacher  of  the  gospel.  We  shall,  however, 
meet  him  again — a  giant  in  the  itinerant  ranks — 
devoting  the  prime  of  his  manhood  and  the  evening 
of  his  life  to  the  promotion  of  Methodism.  We 
will  follow  him  to  the  close  of  his  earthly  career, 
and  catch  the  last  notes  of  triumph  that  fall  from 
his  dying  lips. 

Although  the  returns  of  this  year  do  not  indicate 
the  prosperity  that  attended  the  labors  of  the  pre- 
vious year,  yet  "there  was  considerable  religious 
excitement,"  and  many  accessions  to  the  Church. 
There  was  an  increase  of  membership  on  all  the 
circuits.  The  largest  increase  was  on  the  Salt 
River  Circuit — the  most  laborious  in  the  Confer- 
ence :  it  was  one  hundred  and  twenty-six.     On  the 


100  METHODISM 

Danville  Circuit,  the  increase  was  ninety-tliree  ;  on 
the  Lexington,  twenty-three,  and  on  the  Limestone, 
thirteen.  The  total  increase  w^as  two  hundred  and 
fifty-five. 

Up  to  this  period,  not  a  single  death  had  occurred 
among  the  itinerants  of  Kentucky,  if  we  except 
that  of  the  Eev.  Samuel  Tucker,  who  fell  before 
entering  upon  his  work.  The  first  of  the  noble 
band  who  had  devoted  their  lives  to  the  cultivation 
of  "Immanuel's  lands,"  in  these  Western  wilds, 
was  Peter  Massie. 

"  Is  it  not  a  noble  thing  to  die 
As  dies  the  Christian,  with  his  armor  on  ? 
What  is  the  hero's  clarion,  though  its  blast 
King  with  the  mastery  of  a  world,  to  this  ? 
What  are  the  searching  victories  of  mind — ■ 
The  lore  of  vanished  ages  ?  What  are  all 
The  trumpetings  of  proud  humanity. 
To  the  short  history  of  him  who  made 
His  sepulcher  beside  the  King  of  kings?" 

The  composure  of  the  Christian  in  the  hour  of 
death  has  excited  the  admiration  of  mankind  in 
every  age,  since  the  establishment  of  Christianity, 
and  in  every  clime  where  its  ensign  has  floated  and 
its  truths  been  proclaimed,  nis  motto,,  "Ploli- 
ness  to  the  Lord,"  and  his  hope,  the  reward  of  the 
blessed — ever  impressed  with  the  conviction  that 
*'to  die  is  gain" — he  has  always  been  able  to  look 
upon  death,  though  with  feelings  of  solemnity,  yet 
as  the  precursor  of  his  rest,  and  the  avenue  through 
which  he  may  enter  the  abodes  of  the  redeemed. 
The  teachings  of  Christianity  are,  that  this  world  is 
not  man's  home — it  is  only  the  vestibule  of  his 


IN     KENTUCKY.  101 

being — the  stepping-stone  of  his  existence ;  and 
that,  beyond  "  the  valley  and  the  shadow  of  death," 
there  is  a  land  where  spring  is  perennial,  and  amid 
whose  glories  he  may  repose  for  ever  and  ever! 
With  the  Christian,  Death,  the  "king  of  terrors," 
and  the  terror  of  kings,  is  divested  of  his  power  to 
alarm,  and  is  regarded  as  a  friendly  messenger,  to 
"break  the  golden  bowl,"  and  to  ''loose  the  silver 
cord  "  of  life.  How  oft  have  we  seen  the  Christian 
die,  and,  amid  weeping  friends,  heard  the  last  words 
of  triumph  as  they  fell  from  his  expiring  lips  and 
floated  out  on  the  pure,  ambient  air  of  heaven !  It 
was  the  triumph  of  the  soldier,  returning  from  the 
empurpled  field  with  victory  inscribed  upon  his 
banner.  The  contest  had  been  severe,  but  the  tri- 
umph is  complete.  It  is  more  :  it  is  the  inexpressible 
joy  of  the  child  of  God,  who,  with  earth's  sorrows 
past,  is  now  standing  beside  the  river  on  whose 
banks  there  grows  no  living  thing,  and  upon  whose 
leaden  waters  there  floats  not  a  wreck  of  all  that 
was — looking  back,  with  emotions  of  pleasure,  upon 
a  life  that  had  been  consecrated  and  devoted  to 
God ;  and  then,  beyond  the  swelling  stream,  to  the 
"land  afar  off*,"  and,  in  the  light  of  Revelation, 
contemplating  the  glories  that  await  him.  It  is  the 
rapture  of  the  soldier  of  the  cross,  who,  with  life's 
battle  fought  and  its  warfare  ended,  leaning  his 
head  upon  the  breast  of  his  Redeemer,  bids  adieu 
to  earth — the  theater  of  his  conflicts — and  enters 
upon  eternal  rest.  If  this  be  so  with  the  Christian 
who  may  have  filled  only  an  humble  sphere  in  life, 
may  we  not  expect  the  faithful  minister  of  Christ, 


102  METHODISM 

whose  life  had  been  devoted  to  the  weal  of  others, 
to  approach  the  margin  of  the  river  undaunted  and 
composed  ?  It  has  been  often  and  truly  said,  that 
"  a  man's  life  is  the  proper  index  to  his  death.  Tell 
me  how  he  lived,  and  I  will  tell  you  how  he  died." 
This,  as  a  rule,  is  correct,  with  proper  qualifications. 
Apply  it  to  the  subject  before  us,  and  how  gratify- 
ing to  linger  and  contemplate  his  character ! 

Peter  Massie  was  the  first  itinerant  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  identified  with  its  fortunes  in 
Kentucky,  to  die — as  he  was  the  first  man,  converted 
in  the  State,  who  became  an  itinerant.  He  was 
among  the  first-fruits  of  the  revival  of  1786*  in 
Kentucky.  Soon  after  his  conversion,  he  was  im- 
pressed with  the  conviction  that  he  ought  to  devote 
himself  entirely  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  Feel- 
ing properly  the  great  responsibility  of  the  "  high 
and  holy  calling,"  and  his  "  insufficienc}^  for  these 
things,"  he  endeavored  to  drown  the  voice  of  con- 
science, and  to  suppress  his  impressions  on  this  sub- 
ject. The  result  was  the  loss  of  his  religious 
enjoyment — retaining,  however,  "the  form  of  god- 
liness," and  his  membership  in  the  Church.  While 
in  this  backslidden  state,  "  in  company  with  two 
others,  he  crossed  the  Ohio  River  into  the  Indian 

*In  Finley's  Sketches  of  Western  Alethodisra,  p.  66,  the  Rev. 
William  Burke,  referring  to  the  revivals  under  the  labors  of  James 
Haw,  says:  "Out  of  this  revival  was  raised  up  some  useful  and 
promising  young  men,  who  entered  the  traveling  connection,  and 
many  of  them  made  full  proof  of  their  ministry,  and  lived  many 
years  to  ornament  the  Church  of  God.  I  will  name  a  few  of  them: 
Peter  Massie,  who  was  termed  the  weeping  prophet,  was  among  the 
first-fruits." 


IN    KENTUCKY.  103 

country,  and  gathered  some  horses.  On  their  re- 
turn, the  Indians  overtook  them  on  the  bank  of  the 
Ohio,  fired  on  them,  and  killed  all  the  company, 
except  Massie.  Seeing  no  chance  for  flight,  he 
sprang  into  a  sink,  and  concealed  himself  among 
the  weeds.  He  could  see  the  savages  butchering 
his  comrades,  whom  they  cut  to  pieces  and  scat- 
tered around  him."*  Surrounded  by  such  immi- 
nent danger — his  escape  uncertain — he  turned  to 
the  only  sure  refuge  for  such  an  hour.  He  fer- 
vently prayed  for  deliverance,  and  promised,  if  his 
life  was  spared,  he  would  hesitate  no  longer  in  en- 
tering the  ministry.  He  faithfully  kept  his  promise. 
In  1788,  he  entered  the  connection,  and  traveled 
successively  the  Lexington,  the  Danville,  the  Cum- 
berland, and  the  Limestone  Circuits.  The  Lime- 
stone Circuit — the  last  to  which  he  was  appointed — 
was  the  smallest  in  its  territorial  limits  of  any  on 
which  he  had  labored;  and  yet  it  spread  over  a 
large  tract  of  country.  In  the  various  charges  he 
filled,  he  was  eminently  useful.  As  often  as  he 
preached,  he  wept  over  the  people.  He  was  styled 
"the  weeping  prophet."  A  writerf  says :  "  He  was 
a  feeling,  pathetic  preacher.  The  sympathetic  tear 
often  trickled  down  his  manly  cheek  while  pointing 
his  audience  to  the  Lamb  of  God  slain  for  sinners." 
His  talents  as  a  preacher  were  fair;  his  personal 
appearance  attractive;  his  voice  soft  and  plaintive — 
a  good  singer;   fascinating  in  his  address,  and  re- 


*  Recollections  of  the  West,  p.  19. 
f  Rev.  Lewis  Garrett. 


104  METHODISM 

markable  for  liis  zeal.  He  was  about  thirty  years 
of  age.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  one  so  useful,  so 
devoted,  and  so  universally  beloved,  should  so  early 
be  called  away.  He  died  in  the  bounds  of  the  Cum- 
berland Circuit,  on  which  he  had  traveled  the  pre- 
vious 3'ear,  and  to  which  he  had  gone  probably  on  a 
visit  to  his  friends.  On  the  evening  of  the  18th  of 
December,  1791,  he  reached  the  house  of  Mr. 
Hodges,  four  miles  west  of  ]!!Tashville.  The  family 
of  Mr.  Hodges  was  in  the  fort,  for  protection,  and 
Mr.  Hodges  himself  was  in  his  cabin,  alone,  and 
quite  ill.  The  only  person  at  the  cabin,  besides, 
was  a  negro  boy  named  Simeon,  who  had  on  that 
evening  escaped  from  the  Indians,  and  reached  the 
house  of  Mr.  Hodges.  Simeon  had  become  ac- 
quainted with  the  preacher  on  the  Cumberland 
Circuit,  and  had  been  converted  through  his  instru- 
mentality. Mr.  Massie  was  "an  afflicted  man." 
His  constitution,  always  feeble,  had  become  greatly 
impaired  by  his  excessive  labors,  and,  on  reaching 
the  house  of  his  friend,  he  complained  of  indisposi- 
tion. He  suifered  considerably  during  the  night, 
but  on  the  next  morning  was  able  to  take  his  place 
at  the  table.  While  in  conversation  with  Mr. 
Hodges,  it  was  observed  to  him  ''that  he  would  soon 
be  well  enough  to  travel,  if  he  recovered  so  fast." 
To  which  he  replied :  "  If  I  am  not  well  enough  to 
travel,  I  am  happy  enough  to  die."*  These  were 
his  last  words.  In  a  few  moments  he  fell  from  his 
seat,  and  suddenly  expired.     In  any  country  the 

*Rev.  Learner  Blackmail's  unpublished  manuscript. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  105 

death  of  such  a  man  would  be  deeply  felt;  but 
where  the  "  harvest  was  so  plenteous,  and  the  labor- 
ers so  few,"  the  loss  of  so  useful  a  minister  would 
spread  a  shadow  over  the  Church.  But  he  has 
passed  away — the  first  of  a  noble  line  of  self-sacri- 
ficing and  devoted  ministers  of  Christ — "having 
washed  his  robes  and  made  them  white  in  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb." 

When  nearly  a  half  centurj^  had  elapsed,  the  Ten- 
nessee Conference  felt  a  considerable  anxiety  to  find 
the  place  of  his  burial.  ]^o  stone  had  been  left  to 
mark  his  grave ;  or,  if  so,  it  had  fallen  away.  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  find  the  sacred  spot; 
but,  after  an  ineffectual  search  for  years,  the  hope 
of  success  was  abandoned.  Seven  years  later,  the 
Rev.  Thomas  L.  Douglass  was  preaching  near  IlTash- 
ville,  and  in  the  close  of  his  sermon  referred  with 
much  feeling  to  the  hope  he  anticipated  of  meeting 
in  heaven  with  Wesley,  Asbury,  McKendree,  and 
others  who  had  passed  over  the  flood.  In  the  con- 
gregation there  sat  an  aged  African,  with  tears 
coursing  their  way  down  his  furrowed  cheeks,  and 
the  frosts  of  nearly  eighty  winters  resting  upon  his 
brow.  He  too  was  deeply  moved,  and,  thinking 
of  another  Avhom  he  hoped  to  see  again,  exclaimed 
in  a  clear  voice:  "Yes,  and  Brother  Massie!"  and 
then,  continuing  his  soliloquy,  he  added :  "Yes, 
Simeon,  with  these  hands,  with  no  one  to  help,  you 
dug  his  grave,  and  laid  him  away  in  the  cold  earth; 
but  you  will  see  him  again,  for  he  lives  in  heaven  ! " 
A  member  of  the  Tennessee  Conference*  sat  just 

*Rev.  A.  L.  P.  Green,  D.D. 


106  METHODISM 

in  front  of  old  Simeon,  and  heard  what  he  said. 
After  the  close  of  the  services,  he  took  him  aside, 
and  inquired  of  him  as  to  what  he  knew  of  the 
death  and  burial  of  Peter  Massie.  His  eyes  spark- 
ling with  the  fire  of  other  years,  he  replied  that  he 
was  at  Mr.  Hodges's  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  Mr. 
Massie ;  that  Mr.  Hodges  himself  was  sick,  and 
unable  to  assist  in  his  burial,  and  that  the  painful 
pleasure  of  the  interment  devolved  on  him  alone ; 
that  he  had  no  plank  of  which  to  make  a  cofian ; 
that  he  cut  down  an  ash-tree  and  split  it  in  slabs, 
and  placed  them  in  the  grave  which  he  had  dug, 
and,  after  depositing  the  body,  placed  a  slab  over  it, 
and  then  filled  the  grave  with  the  earth.  He  was 
under  the  impression  that  he  could  find  the  precise 
spot  where  the  remains  of  Massie  lay ;  but  he  could 
not.  When  he  buried  him,  the  whole  country  was 
a  wilderness ;  but  at  the  time  he  made  the  search 
for  his  grave,  civilization  had  changed  its  entire 
appearance. 

"  His  ashes  lie, 
No  marble  tells  us  where.     With  his  name 
No  bard  embalms  nor  sanctifies  his  song." 

Angels  keep  their  vigils  over  his  grave,  and  in  the 
final  resurrection  he  shall  have  a  part. 

We  now  propose  to  close  this  chapter  with  a  brief 
sketch  of  Simeon,  by  whom  Peter  Massie  was 
buried.  He  was  a  native  African,  and  stated  to 
Bishop  Paine  that  he  belonged  to  the  nobility  of 
that  country.  When  only  a  child,  he  was  brought 
to  the  United  States.     He  fortunately  fell  into  the 


IN     KENTUCKY.  107 

hands  of  Mr.  Dickinson,  an  elegant  gentleman  of 
Tennessee;  and,  under  the  preaching  of  Peter 
Massie,  in  1790,  was  awakened  and  converted  to 
God.  He  soon  became  impressed  with  the  convic- 
tion that  he  ought  to  preach  the  gospel ;  and,  al- 
though uneducated,  he  entered  at  once  upon  the 
work  of  the  ministry.  For  more  than  fifty  years  he 
lifted  the  ensign  of  the  cross  among  the  colored 
people  of  Tennessee,  and  was  remarkable  for  his 
success  in  winning  them  to  Christ.  His  preaching 
was  "  not  with  enticing  words  of  man's  wisdom,  but 
in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  with  power," 
and  exerted  an  influence  that  was  felt  far  and  near. 
With  the  people  of  his  own  color  he  enjoyed  a  pop- 
ularity that  belonged  to  no  other  man  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lived,  and  over  them  he  exer- 
cised an  authority  for  good.  The  purity  of  his  life 
so  won  upon  the  affections  and  confidence  of  his 
master,  that,  in  early  manhood,  he  emancipated 
him,  and  gave  him  a  small  farm  near  Nashville, 
which  was  voluntarily  returned  by  him  in  his  last 
will  and  testament.  The  deep  concern  that  he  felt 
for  the  African  race  was  not  confined  to  those  around 
him,  but  his  sympathy  extended  to  his  countrymen 
in  their  native  land. 

In  1823,  he  called  on  Bishop  McKendree,  and 
presented  to  him,  in  forcible  language,  the  wants 
and  the  condition  of  his  people  in  Africa,  and  urged 
the  appointment  of  a  missionary  to  that  benighted 
land.  The  Bishop  became  deeply  interested  in  the 
scheme,  and  decided  to  comply  with  his  wishes. 
The  Bev.  Bobert  Paine  (now  Bishop  Paine)  was 


108  METHODISM 

then  a  young  preacher,  and  stationed  at  Franklin 
and  Lebanon.  Mr.  Paine  offered  himself  for  the 
work,  making  only  one  condition — that  Simeon 
shonld  accompany  him.  To  this  Simeon  readily 
consented  ;  but  the  entire  arrangement  was  defeated 
by  the  remonstrance  of  the  Church  at  those  places 
against  the  removal  of  their  preacher.* 

In  his  personal  appearance  he  was  superior  to  all 
his  race  around  him.  Althongh  a  full-blooded 
African,  his  face  would  have  commanded  attention 
anywhere.  With  a  high  and  well-formed  forehead ; 
with  penetrating,  searching  eyes ;  with  a  counte- 
nance full  of  the  expression  of  benevolence,  and 
with  a  mind  for  above  ordinary — he  would  have 
commanded  respect  in  any  community.  Added  to 
these,  a  life  unblemished  by  vice,  developing  every 
day  the  practical  duties  of  Christianity,  it  is  no 
wonder  that  he  enjoyed  the  confidence,  as  well  as 
commanded  the  respect,  of  those  among  whom  he 
lived,  i^ot  only  did  he  minister  to  the  spiritual 
wants  of  his  own  people,  but  often  was  he  sent  for 
to  kneel  and  ofier  prayers  to  God  at  the  bedside  of 
the  sick  and  the  dying  among  the  white  people. f 

In  1847,  he  passed  away.  After  a  long  and  useful 
life,  he  was  called  from  "labor to  reward."  While 
dying,  a  member  of  the  Church  was  kneeling  beside 
him,  who  said  to  him  :  "Father  Simeon,  what  hope 
have  you  beyond  the  grave  ? "    With  his  eyes  swim- 


*  I  have  these  facts  from  Bishop  Paine. 

f  Samuel  P.  Ament  informed  me  that  he  had  often  found  him 
praying  with  white  families  in  sickness. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  109 

ming  in  death,  lie  raised  his  right  hand,  and  replied  : 
"Up,  up,  up!"  He  spoke  no  more.  Thus  died 
this  venerable  servant  of  Jesus  Christ — respected 
in  life,  and  lamented  in  death,  by  all  who  knew 
him. 


110  METHODISM 


CHAPTER   V. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1792  TO  THE  CONFERENCE 
OF  1793. 

Kentucky  admitted  into  the  Union — Isaac  Shelby  the  first  Governor 
—  The  imperiled  condition  of  the  State  —  Preparations  for  its 
defense — The  counties  of  Lincoln,  Fayette,  Jefferson,  Nelson, 
Bourbon,  Madison,  Mercer,  Woodford,  Mason,  Green,  Hardin, 
Scott,  Logan,  Shelby,  and  Washington — The  Conference  of  1792 — 
Bishop  Asbury  present  —  Keligious  condition  of  the  State  —  Col. 
John  Hardin — He  is  sent  on  a  mission  of  peace  to  the  Indians — 
Is  massacred  —  Col.  Hardin  a  Methodist — Isaac  Hammer — John 
Sewell  —  Eichard  Bird  —  Benjamin  Northcutt — John  Bay  —  An- 
ecdotes of  John  Ray  —  John  Page  —  Dr.  McFerrin's  testimony  — 
Letters  of  John  Page  —  Bishops  Asbury,  Whatcoat,  and  Coke  — 
Wilson  Lee  leaves  Kentucky. 

Kentucky  was  admitted  as  a  sovereign  State  into 
the  Union  in  1792.  On  tlie  4th  of  June,  under  the 
first  Constitution,  Isaac  Shelby,  the  first  Governor, 
took  the  oath  of  oflice.  Mr.  Shelby  was  of  Welsh 
descent,  but  was  born  in  the  State  of  Maryland, 
near  Hagerstown,  where  his  ancestors  had  settled, 
on  their  first  arrival  in  America  from  Wales.  In 
early  manhood,  he  removed  to  Western  Virginia. 
At  twenty-four  years  of  age,  he  distinguished  him- 
self by  the  conspicuous  part  that  he  bore  in  the 
memorable  and  bloody  battle  fought  with  the  In- 
dians on  the  10th  of  October,  1774,  at  the  mouth 


IN    KENTUCKY.  Ill 

of  the  Kanawha,  under  the  command  of  the  famous 
chief,  Cornstalk.* 

Mingling  with  the  stirring  events  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  having  borne  an  active  part  in  our  struggle 
for  independence,  he  won  for  himself  a  reputation 
for  martial  prowess  that  gave  him  a  place  in  the 
confidence  and  affections  of  his  countrymen  more 
enduring  than  granite.  In  1783,  he  came  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  "  he  established  himself  on  the  first 
settlement  and  preemption  granted  in  Kentucky," 
on  lands  that  he  had  "  marked  out  and  improved 
for  himself,"  during  his  first  trip  to  the  District,  in 
1775.  Desirous  to  live  in  retirement,  in  the  peace- 
ful pursuit  of  agriculture,  and  to  enjoy  the  quietude 
of  home,  he  addressed  himself  with  energy  to  the 
improvement  of  his  lands.  The  unsettled  condition 
of  the  District — the  frequency  of  Indian  depreda- 
tions— the  unprotected  condition  of  the  frontier — 
the  dangers  to  which  the  settlers  were  continually 
exposed — all  called  for  efforts  too  active  to  allow 
such  a  man  the  enjoyment  of  rest.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Conventions  held  in  Danville  in  1787  and 
1788,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  separation  from 
the  State  of  Virginia ;  and  also  a  member  of  the 
Convention  of  April,  1792,  which  formed  the  first 
Constitution  of  Kentucky.  In  the  succeeding  month 
he  was  duly  elected  Governor  of  the  State.  Enter- 
ing upon  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties  under 
the  most  trying  circumstances,  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion at  once  to  the  defense  of  the  State  against 

*  The  father  of  Bishop  Morris  was  in  the  same  battle. — Morris  s 
Miscellany,  p.  87. 


112  METHODISM 

Indian  incursions,  and  entered  upon  defensive  opera- 
tions for  the  protection  of  the  entire  frontier.  The 
safety  of  the  people — their  growth  and  prosperity — 
as  well  as  their  religious  advancement,  and  the  pro- 
motion of  Christianity,  were  intimately  associated 
with  the  devising  of  such  measures  as  would  be  a 
guarantee  for  protection.  War  has  never  been 
friendly  to  the  advancement  of  religious  truth,  and 
no  wars  have  probably  ever  been  more  demoralizing 
than  those  between  the  early  Kentuckians  and  the 
Indians.  Commenced  and  waged  with  shocking 
cruelties  by  the  savage,  retaliations  equally  severe 
were  not  unfrequent.  The  administration  of  Gov. 
Shelby — the  signal  advantage  to  the  State  with 
which  he  discharged  his  duties  as  the  Chief  Exec- 
utive— belong  not  to  our  history,  but  to  that  of 
the  State. 

The  county  of  Kentucky,  which  had  been  formed 
in  1776,  by  the  Legislature  of  Virginia,  out  of  Fin- 
castle  county,  was  divided,  in  1780,  into  three  coun- 
ties— Lincoln,  Fayette,  and  Jefferson.  The  former 
was  named  in  honor  of  Gen.  Benjamin  Lincoln,  an 
officer  of  distinction  in  the  Revolutionary  war;  Fay- 
ette county  was  so  called  for  Gen.  Lafayette,  the 
generous  young  Frenchman  who  offered  his  services 
to  Washington  in  defense  of  American  liberty  ;  and 
Jefferson  county  was  named  in  honor  of  Thomas 
Jefferson.  Besides  these,  six  other  counties  had 
been  formed  previous  to  1792:  in  1781,  Nelson, 
named  in  honor  of  Gov.  !N"elson,  of  Virginia;  in 
1785,  Bourbon  and  Madison  counties  were  formed 
— the  former  named  for  the  Bourbon  family,  in 


IN    KENTUCKY.  113 

France,  and  the  latter  for  James  Madison  :  Mercer 
county  was  formed  in  1786,  and  was  named  in  honor 
of  Gen.  Hugh  Mercer;  in  1788,  Woodford,  and  in 
1789,  Mason  counties,  were  formed — the  former 
named  after  Gen.  William  Woodford,  and  the  latter 
in  honor  of  George  Mason,  an  eminent  statesman 
of  Virginia. 

In  1792,  six  additional  counties  were  formed, 
namely.  Green,  Hardin,  Scott,  Logan,  Shelby,  and 
Washington.* 

The  Conference  of  1792  was  appointed  to  be  held 
on  Monday,  the  1st  of  May ;  but  from  Bishop  As- 
bury's  Journal,  the  time  appears  to  have  been  an- 
ticipated.    The  Bishop  says  : 

"  Kentucky — Tuesday,  April  3.  We  reached  Rich- 
land Creek,  and  were  preserved  from  harm.  About 
two  o'clock  it  began  to  rain,  and  continued  most  of 
the  day.  After  crossing  the  Laurel  River,  which 
we  were  compelled  to  swim,  we  came  to  Rock- 
castle Station,  where  we  found  such  a  set  of  sin- 
ners as  made  it  next  to  hell  itself.  Our  corn  here 
cost  us  a  dollar  per  bushel. 

'^Wednesday,  April  4.  This  morning  we  again 
swam  the  river,  and  also  the  West  Fork  thereof 
My  little  horse  was  ready  to  fail  in  the  course  of 
the  day.  I  was  steeped  in  the  water  up  to  the 
waist.  About  seven  o'clock,  with  hard  pushing,  we 
reached  the  Crab  Orchard.  How  much  I  have  suf- 
fered in  this  journey  is  only  known  to  God  and 
myself     What  added  much  to  its  disagreeableness, 

•^'Collins's  Kentucky. 


114  METHODISM 

is  the  extreme  filthiness  of  the  houses.  I  was 
seized  with  a  severe  flux,  w^hich  followed  me  eight 
days :  for  some  of  the  time  I  kept  up,  but  at  last 
found  myself  under  the  necessity  of  taking  to  my 
bed. 

''Tuesday,  April  10.  I  endured  as  severe  pain  as, 
perhaps,  I  ever  felt.  I  made  use  of  small  portions 
of  rhubarb,  and  also  obtained  some  good  claret,  of 
which  I  drank  a  bottle  in  three  da3^s,  and  was  al- 
most well,  so  that  on  Sunday  following  I  preached 
a  sermon  an  hour  long.  In  the  course  of  my  af- 
fliction I  have  felt  myself  very  low.  I  have  had 
serious  views  of  eternity,  and  was  free  from  the  fear 
of  death.  I  stopped  and  lodged,  during  my  illness, 
with  Mr.  "Willis  Green,  who  showed  me  all  possible 
attention  and  kindness. 

"I  wrote  and  sent  to  Mr.  Rice,  a  Presbyterian 
minister,  a  commendation  of  his  speech,  delivered 
in  a  convention  in  Kentucky,  on  the  natural  rights 
of  mankind.  I  gave  him  an  exhortation  to  call  on 
the  Methodists  on  his  way  to  Philadelphia,  and,  if 
convenient,  to  preach  in  our  houses. 

"  Tuesday,  April  11.  I  wrote  an  address  on  behalf 
of  Bethel  school.  The  weather  was  wet,  and 
stopped  us  until  Friday. 

''Friday,  April  20.  Rode  to  Clarke's  Station ;  and 
on  Saturday  preached  on  David's  charge  to  Sol- 
omon. 

"Sunday,  April  22.  I  preached  a  long  and,  per- 
haps, a  terrible  sermon,  some  may  think,  on 
*  Knowing,  therefore,  the  terror  of  the  Lord,  we 
persuade  men.' 


IN    KENTUCKY.  115 

^''Monday,  April  23.  I  rode  to  Bethel.  I  found  it 
necessary  to  change  the  plan  of  the  house,  to  make 
it  more  comfortable  to  the  scholars  in  cold  weather. 
I  am  too  much  in  company,  and  hear  so  much  about 
Indians,  convention,  treaty,  killing,  and  scalping, 
that  my  attention  is  drawn  more  to  these  things 
than  I  could  wish.  I  found  it  good  to  get  alone  in 
the  woods  and  converse  with  God. 

"  Wednesday^  April  25.  "Was  a  rainy,  damp  day. 
However,  we  rode  to  meet  the  Conference,  where  I 
was  closely  employed  with  the  traveling  and  local 
preachers — with  the  leaders  and  stewards.  I  met 
the  married  men  and  women  apart,  and  we  had 
great  consolation  in  the  Lord.  Vast  crowds  of 
people  attended  public  worship.  The  spirit  of  mat- 
rimony is  very  prevalent  here.  In  one  circuit  both 
preachers  are  settled.  The  land  is  good,  the  coun- 
try new,  and  indeed  all  possible  facilities  to  the 
comfortable  maintenance  of  a  family  are  offered  to 
an  industrious,  prudent  pair. 

^''Monday,  April  30.  Came  to  L.'s.  An  alarm  was 
spreading  of  a  depredation  committed  by  the  In- 
dians, on  the  east  and  west  frontiers  of  the  settle- 
ment. In  the  former,  report  says  one  man  was 
killed.  In  the  latter,  many  men,  with  women  and 
children.  Every  thing  is  in  motion.  There  having 
been  so  many  about  me  at  Conference,  my  rest  was 
much  broken.  I  hoped  now  to  repair  it,  and  get 
refreshed  before  I  set  out  to  return  through  the 
wilderness;  but  the  continual  arrival  of  people 
until  midnight,  the  barking  of  dogs,  and  other  an- 
noyances prevented.     Next  night  we  reached  the 


116  METHODISM 

Crab  Orchard,  where  thirty  or  forty  people  were 
compelled  to  crowd  into  one  mean  house.  We 
could  get  no  more  rest  here  than  we  did  in  the  wil- 
derness. We  came  the  old  way  by  Scaggs  Creek 
and  Rockcastle,  supposing  it  to  be  safer,  as  it  was 
a  road  less  frequented,  and  therefore  less  liable  to 
be  waylaid  by  the  savages.  My  body,  by  this  time, 
is  well  tried.  I  had  a  violent  fever  and  pain  in  the 
head,  such  as  I  had  not  lately  felt.  I  stretched  my- 
self on  the  cold  ground,  and  borrowing  clothes  to 
keep  me  warm,  by  the  mercy  of  God  I  slept  four  or 
live  hours.  Next  morning  we  set  off  early,  and 
passed  beyond  Richland  Creek.  Here  we  were  in 
danger,  if  anywhere.  I  could  have  slept,  but  was 
afraid.  Seeing  the  drowsiness  of  the  company,  I 
walked  the  encampment,  and  watched  the  sentries 
the  whole  night.  Early  next  morning  we  made  our 
way  to  Robinson's  Station.  We  had  the  best  com- 
pany I  ever  met  with — thirty-six  good  travelers, 
and  a  few  warriors  ;  but  we  had  a  pack-horse,  some 
old  men,  and  two  tired  horses — these  were  not  the 
best  part." 

The  preachers  appointed  to  the  work  were  mostly 
new  men.  The  zealous  and  indefatigable  Lee  and 
Birchett,  with  Francis  Poythress  as  the  Presiding 
Elder  of  the  District — men  who  had  contributed  so 
largely  to  the  success  that  had  crowned  the  labors 
of  Methodism,  thus  far,  in  Kentucky — were  still 
continued  in  this  department.  The  names  of  John 
Ray,  John  Page,  Benjamin  Northcutt,  John  Sew- 
ell,  Richard  Bird,  and  Isaac  Hammer,  ai)pcar  this 


IN     KENTUCKY.  117 

year,  for  the  first  time,  in  the  list  of  the  Kentucky 
Appointments.  Allusion  has  already  been  made  to 
the  difficulties  with  which  the  pioneer  preachers 
had  to  contend  in  propagating  the  truths  of  Chris- 
tianity amongst  the  first  settlers  of  Kentucky.  As 
yet,  there  was  no  abatement  in  their  trials.  Very 
few  settlements  had  been  made  outside  the  forts, 
and  there  was  no  diminution  of  the  vigilance  or 
cruelty  of  the  Indians.  The  nation  had  just  emerged 
from  a  long  and  bloody  war,  in  their  struggle  for 
independence.  The  early  settlers  in  Kentucky  had, 
in  the  States  from  whence  they  came,  been  active 
participators  in  the  exciting  scenes  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. We  have  already  said  that  war  is  demoral- 
izing; and  protracted,  as  was  the  Revolutionary 
war,  through  several  years,  there  was  left  upon  the 
minds  of  the  people  an  irreligious  taint,  if  not  the 
impress  of  infidelity.  Religion  had  been,  to  a  great 
extent,  neglected.  Besides,  the  perils  to  which  they 
were  exposed,  together  with  the  frequent  massacres 
which  occurred,  kept  the  mind  in  such  a  state  of 
continual  excitement  as  to  repel  religious  truth. 

It  was  in  December  of  this  year  that  Col.  John 
Hardin  w^as  killed  by  the  Indians.  Among  the 
brave  and  patriotic  of  the  State  he  had  but  few 
peers.  Descended  from  one  of  the  best  families  of 
Virginia,  he  had  served  with  marked  distinction  in 
the  Continental  army.  Enjoying  in  the  highest 
degree  the  esteem  and  the  confidence  of  Gen.  Daniel 
Morgan,  to  whose  command  he  was  attached,  he 
was  frequently  selected  for  enterprises  of  peril,  the 
success   of    which    depended    upon   prudence   and 


118  METHODISM 

daring.  As  early  as  1780,  he  came  to  Kentucky, 
but  returned  to  Virginia.  In  1786,  he,  with  his 
wife  and  family,  came  again  to  Kentucky,  and  set- 
tled in  [N'elson  (afterward  Washington)  county.  In 
the  wars  against  the  Indians  he  had  taken  an  active 
part.  "After  his  settlement  in  Kentucky,  there  was 
not  a  single  expedition  into  the  Indian  country  in 
which  he  was  not  engaged,  except  that  of  Gen.  St. 
Clafr,  from  which  he  was  prevented  by  an  acci- 
dental wound,  received  while  using  a  carpenter's 
adze."  *  In  the  spring  of  this  year,  he  was  sent  by 
Gen.  Wilkerson  with  overtures  of  peace  to  the  In- 
dians. The  impression  rested  upon  his  mind  that 
he  would  never  return ;  but,  true  to  the  instincts  of 
a  brave  and  noble  nature,  he  accepted  the  danger- 
ous trust,  willing,  if  need  be,  to  sacrifice  his  life  to 
his  country's  good.  He  reached  an  Indian  camp, 
on  his  way  to  the  Miami  villages,  attended  by  an 
interpreter — about  a  day's  journey  from  where  Fort 
Defiance  was  afterward  built.  He  remained  during 
the  night  with  the  Indians,  who,  in  the  morning, 
massacred  him. 

The  loss  of  Col.  Hardin  to  the  State  of  Kentucky 
was  deeply  felt.  'No  man  had  contributed  more 
than  he  to  the  protection  and  safety  of  the  settlers. 
The  cause  of  Christianity,  too,  lost  one  of  its 
brightest  ornaments.  As  early  as  1787,  he  em- 
braced religion,  and  joined  the  Methodist  Church, 
and,  by  his  zeal,  his  influence,  and  his  piety,  had 
contributed  much   to  its   growth   and   prosperity. 

*Collins's  Kentucky,  p.  339. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  119 

But  in  his  home  the  stroke  was  felt  with  the  great- 
est severity.  For  several  months  hope  was  enter- 
tained of  his  safety — that  he  was  only  a  prisoner, 
and  might  still  return. 

On  the  13th  of  the  following  April,  Bishop  As- 
hury,  on  his  way  to  the  Conference  in  Kentucky, 
visited  Col.  Hardin's  family,  and  makes  the  follow- 
ing record  in  his  journal:  "From  the  quarterly 
meeting  we  came  to  Col.  Hardin's.  He  has  been 
gone  some  time  to  treat  with  the  Indians:  if  he  is 
dead,  here  is  a  widow  and  six  children  left.  I  can- 
not yet  give  him  up  for  lost." 

With  deepest  solicitude — with  feelings  of  min- 
gled fear  and  hope — his  devoted  wife  waited  for  his 
return.  The  frosts  of  autumn  came,  and  the  snows 
of  winter  followed,  and  then  the  sad  intelligence 
of  his  massacre.  How  desolate  then  his  home ! 
His  impressions  were  prophetic  :  he  never  returned ! 

The  cultivation  of  this  field  of  ministerial  labor 
required  not  only  intellectual  endowments  of  a  high 
character,  but  also  a  devotion  that  no  difficulties  or 
trials  could  impair,  and  a  resolution  that  no  influ- 
ence could  shake.  For  more  than  two  generations, 
the  names  of  Ray,  and  Korthcutt,  and  Page,  occupy 
a  place  in  the  columns  of  the  passing  history  of  the 
Church. 

The  itinerant  career  of  both  Isaac  Hammer  and 
John  Sewell  was  short.  There  is  no  account  of  the 
admission  of  Isaac  Hammer  into  the  Conference. 
His  name  appears  in  the  Minutes  of  this  year  (1792) 
for  the  first  time,  as  colleague  to  Henry  Birchett  on 
the  Salt  River  Circuit ;  after  which  he  unaccountably 


120  METHODISM 

disappears  from  the  roll.  The  failure  of  his  health, 
in  all  probahilitj,  rendered  him  unequal  to  the  task 
of  an  itinerant  preacher,  and  compelled  him  to  re- 
tire from  a  work  that  he  had  not  the  strength  to 
perform. 

John  Sewell  was  admitted  into  the  Conference 
in  1791,  and  traveled  the  Holston  Circuit,  in  Vir- 
ginia, one  year,  before  entering  on  his  labors  in  the 
wilderness  of  Kentucky.  His  appointment  for  this 
year  was  to  the  Lexington  Circuit,  with  Benjamin 
iTorthcutt  and  John  Page  as  his  colleagues.  His 
labors,  however,  in  the  Conference  were  brief.  In 
1793,  he  traveled  the  Danville  Circuit,  and  located 
at  the  close  of  the  year. 

Richard  Bird  entered  the  traveling  connection 
this  year,  and  was  appointed  to  the  Danville  Cir- 
cuit. Wilson  Lee,  whose  memory  is  so  fragrant  to 
the  Church,  was  the  preacher  in  charge.  The  sub- 
sequent year,  Mr.  Bird  traveled  on  the  Hinkstone 
Circuit;  in  1794,  the  Limestone;  after  which  he  is 
transferred  to  Virginia,  and  travels  successively  on 
the  'New  Eiver,  the  Bottetourt,  and  the  Greenbrier 
Circuits ;  and  then  his  name  disappears  from  the 
list  of  appointments. 

It  is  but  seldom  that  three  such  names  appear  so 
closely  together,  in  answer  to  the  question  in  the 
General  Minutes,  "Who  are  admitted  on  trial?" 
as  those  of  I^orthcutt,  Bay,  and  Page.  Each,  a 
giant  in  his  sphere,  was  well  qualified  to  assist  in 
laying  the  foundations  of  the  temple  of  Methodism 
amid  the  perils  of  the  West. 

Benjamin  Korthcutt  was  born  in  North  Carolina, 


IN    KENTUCKY.  121 

January  IG,  1770,  and  came  to  Kentucky  in  1786. 
In  tlie  twentieth  year  of  his  age  he  was  converted 
to  God,  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  The  year  after  his  conversion  he  w^as 
licensed  to  preach,  and  was  employed  the  same 
year  as  helper  on  the  Lexington  and  Danville  Cir- 
cuit. The  following  year  he  joined  the  Conference, 
and  was  appointed  to  the  Lexington  Circuit,  and 
the  next  year  to  the  Limestone.  He  remained, 
however,  but  a  short  time  in  the  itinerant  work. 

ISTo  man,  in  a  local  sphere,  labored  more  assidu- 
ously than  he,  or  did  more  toward  the  development 
and  growth  of  the  infant  Church ;  and  but  few  in 
the  itinerant  ranks  have  contributed  more  largely 
toward  the  prosperity  and  elevation  of  Methodism 
in  Kentucky.  The  principal  societies  in  Fleming, 
and  man}^  in  Mason,  Nicholas,  and  Bath  counties, 
w^ere  formed  by  him ;  and  in  the  extraordinary  re- 
vivals of  religion  which  pervaded  the  State  about 
the  close  of  the  last  and  the  commencement  of 
the  present  century,  he  was  remarkably  prominent 
as  an  efficient  instrument  in  producing  that  glori- 
ous work  of  God.  Eeared  amid  the  privations  of 
frontier  life,  and  conversant  with  the  great  revival 
of  1790,  he  was  well  prepared  for  the  toil  and  the 
enjoyment  connected  with  those  remarkable  demon- 
strations of  Divine  power — the  subject  of  so  much 
speculation — with  which  our  State  was  favored  at  a 
later  period.  Side  by  side,  at  Cane  Ridge,  at  In- 
dian Creek,  at  Sugar  Ridge,  and  in  other  portions 
of  the  State,  with  Ray  and  others,  he  labored  day 
and  night  for  the  salvation  of  the  people ;   and  in 


122  METHODISM 

later  life,  so  far  from  being  weary  of  the  noble 
work,  he  not  only  preached  on  Sabbaths,  but  often 
devoted  whole  weeks  together  in  attending  meet- 
ings, both  near  and  remote  from  his  home.  On 
camp-meeting  occasions,  he  was  a  powerful  preacher. 
In  every  department  of  the  ministerial  work  he  was 
perfectly  at  home.  Whether  in  the  altar,  pointing 
the  penitent  to  Christ,  or  standing  before  the  vast 
multitude,  pleading  with  sinners  that  they  might  be 
saved,  he  never  faltered.  In  preaching,  his  voice, 
at  first  low,  yet  soft  and  musical,  would  gather  com- 
pass and  strength  as  he  proceeded  in  the  discus- 
sion of  his  subject,  until  he  could  be  distinctly 
heard  by  the  largest  assembly.  He  resided  in  Flem- 
ing county,  and  in  the  community  in  which  he  lived 
his  influence  was  more  commanding  than  any  other 
minister.  It  was  not  only  his  extraordinary  intel- 
lect, but,  added  to  this,  the  firmness  of  his  Christian 
character,  and  the  parity  of  his  life,  that  endeared 
him  to  the  people.  One*  who  knew  him  well,  said 
of  him:  "Few  men  have  been  permitted  to  live  an 
age  in  one  community,  and  go  down  to  the  grave 
with  the  universal  testimony  that  their  lives  were 
of  unimpeachable  purity.  Yet  this  was  the  lot  of 
Benjamin  ]S"orthcutt." 

He  died  at  his  residence,  in  Fleming  county,  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1854,  of  cancer.  His  sufferings  were 
great,  but  he  bore  them  with  Christian  patience. 

When  spoken  to  in  reference  to  his  future  pros- 
pects, he  always  expressed  himself  with  great  confi- 

*  Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper,  in  Home  Circle,  Vol.  III.,  p.  30. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  123 

dence.  To  his  pastor  lie  said  that  his  unwavering 
conlidenee  in  his  Redeemer  was  astonishing,  even 
to  himself — that  death  was  no  terror  to  him  ;  and 
thus  he  passed  to  the  rest  that  awaited  him. 

The  name  of  John  Ray  appears  on  the  Minutes 
of  this  year,  for  the  first  time,  though  the  testimony 
of  his  family  is  that  he  entered  the  Conference  one 
year  earlier.*  He  was  born  January  21,  1768.  We 
have  no  information  as  to  the  denominational  influ- 
ences, if  any,  under  which  he  was  brought  up. 
Without  the  advantage  of  early  education,  and 
reared  on  the  frontier,  he  was  familiar  with  the  hard- 
ships incident  to  such  a  life.  Indifferent  to  the  sub- 
ject of  religion,  he  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth 
in  the  sports  of  that  period,  in  which  he  greatly 
excelled. 

"  When  the  Methodists  visited  his  neighborhood, 
he  was  one  of  the  first  converts,  and,  forsaking  his 
gay  and  trifling  companions,  turned  his  feet  to 
the  house  of  God."t  Soundly  converted,  and  im- 
pressed with  the  conviction  that  he  ought  to  preach 
the  gospel,  he  soon  offered  himself  to  the  Confer- 
ence, and  was  cordially  received  by  his  brethren. 
His  first  and  second  years  were  spent  on  the  Lime- 
stone Circuit,  in  Kentucky.  In  1793,  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  Green  Circuit,  in  East  Tennessee ;  and 
the  three  following  years  he  labored  in  Virginia; 
and,  from  the  year  1797  to  1800,  inclusive,  he  trav- 
eled extensively  in  ^orth  Carolina,  until,  worn  down 
by  incessant  toil  and  constant  exposure  and  hard- 

*In  a  letter  from  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Lavinia  Moss,  to  the  author, 
f  Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper,  in  Home  Circle,  Vol.  II.,  p.  284. 


124  METHODISM 

ship,  he  was  no  longer  able  to  perform  the  duties 
incumbent  on  an  itinerant  minister.  He  then  sought 
rest  in  a  local  sphere.  In  the  great  work  to  which 
he  had  been  called,  "  his  labors  were  abundant,  and 
through  his  instrumentality  many  were  awakened 
and  converted  to  God."  Whether  on  the  banks  of 
the  Ohio,  in  the  mountains  of  East  Tennessee,  trav- 
eling over  the  rich  lands  of  Virginia,  or  threading 
the  waters  of  the  Roanoke,  in  North  Carolina,  his 
zeal  knew  no  bounds,  save  his  wasting  strength. 

In  1801,  he  located,  and  returned  to  Kentucky, 
and  settled  in  Montgomery  county,  three  miles  east 
of  Mt.  Sterling,  where  his  family  resided,  until  1831 ; 
when,  in  consequence  of  his  antislavery  sentiments, 
he  removed  to  Indiana. 

In  his  local  relation  to  the  Church,  he  was  not 
idle.  He  preached  w^ith  untiring  energy  in  the 
great  revivals  with  which  Kentucky  was  blessed  at 
that  period.  He  had  regular  appointments,  and 
never  failed  to  meet  them  when  able  to  do  so.  He 
was  preeminently  successful  in  the  altar ;  and  wher- 
ever he  labored,  he  was  instrumental  in  the  salva- 
tion of  souls. 

Mr.  Ray  remained  local  until  1819,  when  he  was 
readmitted  into  the  Kentucky  Conference,  and  ap- 
pointed for  two  years  to  the  Lexington  Circuit; 
after  which  he  successively  traveled  the  Limestone, 
Madison,  Danville,  and  Hinkstone  Circuits.  The 
following  two  years  he  sustained  a  superannuated 
relation  to  the  Conference,  after  which  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Hinkstone  Circuit;  and  then  his  name 
appears  no  more  on  the  effective  roll. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  125 

From  1828  until  1836,  he  was  on  the  list  of  super- 
annuated preachers,  when  his  name  disappears, 
without  any  record  on  the  Minutes. 

The  following  year,  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his 
age,  he  calmly  passed  away,  at  his  residence  in  Put- 
nam county,  seven  miles  north  of  Greencastle,  Indi- 
ana, where  he  had  lived  since  1831,  "  esteemed  and 
beloved  by  all  who  knew  him."  * 

During  his  connection  with  the  ministry — which 
lasted  through  nearly  half  a  century — he  maintained 
an  irreproachable  character,  and  in  his  Conference 
relations  was  reverenced  by  the  young,  esteemed  by 
the  aged,  and  respected  by  all. 

Judge  Scott,  late  of  Chillicothe,  Ohio — himself  a 
pioneer  preacher  in  Kentuck}^ — thus  describes  him, 
as  he  appeared  about  the  year  1795 :  "  The  Rev. 
John  Ray  was  a  rather  tall,  well-proportioned  man, 
with  a  very  pleasant  countenance  ;  and,  on  account 
of  his  meek,  courteous  manners,  and  chaste,  in- 
structive conversation,  was  held  in  high  estimation 
by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a  very  faithful  and 
useful  minister  of  the  gospel,  but  did  not  rank  as 
high  as  some  few  of  our  ministers  of  that  day."f 

Many  amusing  incidents  are  related  of  him, 
among  which  we  give  the  following,  from  the  '^Au- 
tumn Leaves:"  J 

*  His  death  was  caused  by  a  lingering  and  painful  affection  of  the 
bronchia. — Home  Circle,  Vol.  II.,  p.  284. 

f  We  are  indebted  to  Eev.  W.  T.  Harvey,  pastor  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  for  a  copy  of  the  manuscript 
left  by  Judge  Scott,  in  reference  to  early  Methodism  in  Kentucky. 
We  shall  quote  from  it  frequently. 

X  Eev.  Jonathan  Stamper,  in  Home  Circlo. 


126  METHODISM 

"  On  one  occasion,  an  old  gentleman  of  some 
wealth  and  influence  had  been  guilty  of  very  unfair 
conduct  in  the  settlement  of  certain  matters;  for 
which,  Ray,  who  was  immediately  concerned,  un- 
hesitatingly remarked  that  the  old  man  was  a  great 
rascal.  The  person  so  complimented,  hearing  of  it, 
said  that  Ray  should  take  that  back,  or  he  would 
thrash  him.  A  short  time  afterward,  Ray  was  pass- 
ing along  the  road  where  the  old  gentleman  was 
out  with  his  hands  at  work.  He  immediately  called 
out: 

"  '  Mr.  Ray,  I  want  to  see  you  a  moment.' 
" '  Very  well,'  said  Ray,  '  what  is  your  will  ? ' 
"  'I  understand  that  you  said  I  was  a  rascal.' 
" '  Yes,  I  did  say  it,  and  I  said  precisely  what  I 
thought.' 

" '  Well,  sir,  I  said  I  would  thrash  you  the  first 
time  I  saw  you.' 

"  'And  did  you  think  that  that  would  make  you 
an  honest  man,  or  alter  my  opinion  of  you?  It 
would  do  neither  the  one  nor  the  other,  so  that  my 
whipping  would  go  for  nothing.  I  think  you  would 
be  acting  very  foolishly.  ITow,  if  you  want  to  find 
out  which  of  us  is  the  stouter  man,  we  can  settle 
that  in  a  more  decent  way  than  by  having  a  fight. 
Let  us  try  it  by  lifting  at  that  log.  If  you 
can  raise  it  higher  than  I  can,  I  will  acknowl- 
edge that  you  are  the  stouter;  but  if  I  lift  it 
higher  than  you — which  I  am  pretty  well  per- 
suaded will  be  the  case — then  you  must  acknowl- 
edge yourself  beaten.' 

"'Well,  Mr.  Ray,  don't  you  acknowledge  that 


IN    KENTUCKY.  127 

you  slandered  me  in  saying  I  was  a  rascal?    and 
won't  you  take  it  back  like  a  Christian  ? ' 

"'ISTo;  I  shall  always  look  upon  you  as  a 
scoundrel  until  you  repent,  and  give  evidence 
of  the  sincerity  of  your  repentance  by  making 
restitution.' 

"  The  old  man  flew  into  a  rage  again,  and  re- 
peated vehemently  that  he  would  flog  him. 

"*I  think,'  said  Ray,  'you  are  a  little  rash.  If 
you  were  to  attempt  such  a  thing,  you  could  not 
do  it.' 

" '  What !  you  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  and 
threatening  to  fight ! ' 

" '  You  had  better  not  provoke  me.  I  do  n't 
know  what  I  might  do ;  only  this,  I  certainly  am 
not  going  to  let  you  beat  me.' 

"'Ah!  well,  Mr.  Eay,  let  us  make  it  up,  and 
have  no  more  quarreling.' 

"'Agreed,'  said  Ray.  'I  will  take  back  what  I 
have  said  when  you  repent  and  make  restitution ; 
but,  until  then,  I  shall  hold  you  as  a  dishonest  man.' 

"  The  old  man  did  not  get  angry  again,  and  Ray 
rode  away,  leaving  him  in  a  better  humor,  but  still 
feeling  that  he  was  regarded  by  him  as  a  dishonest 
man. 

"  Brother  Ray  was  a  stranger  to  fear.  I  once  saw 
him  tried  in  circumstances  where  most  men  would 
have  quailed.  He,  with  several  others,  had  prose- 
cuted a  man  for  kidnapping  a  family  of  free  negroes. 
This  person  had  carried  ofl"  two  lads  and  sold  them 
in  West  Tennessee.  In  order  to  save  himself  from 
the  State-prison,  he  was  compelled  to  send  and  pur- 


128  METHODISM 

chase  the  negroes  at  an  enormous  advance,  and 
surrender  them  to  the  court.  He  was  greatly  exas- 
perated, and  determmed  to  seek  revenge  on  his 
prosecutors.  JSTot  long  afterward,  Ray  and  myself, 
with  two  other  persons,  were  returning  »from  the 
city  of  Lexington,  where  we  had  attended  a  Confer- 
ence. We  had  not  traveled  far  before  we  found 
ourselves  pursued  by  a  party  of  five  men,  armed  to 
the  teeth,  with  knives  and  pistols.  They  followed 
us  until  we  reached  a  certain  place,  when  they  rode 
up,  swearing  that  they  would  be  revenged  by  shed- 
ding Ray's  heart's  blood.  He  received  them  as 
coolly  as  if  they  had  been  harmless  travelers.  '  If 
you  think,'  he  said,  *to  frighten  me  by  this  maneu- 
ver, you  are  mistaken.  I  know  well  that  you  are  a 
set  of  cowards,  or  you  would  not  come  up  armed 
against  an  unarmed  man.  It  is  dastardly.  You  are 
young  men ;  I  am  an  old  man :  why  all  this  parade  ?' 

"  I  and  the  other  brethren  present  told  them  that 
if  they  touched  Ray,  it  would  be  at  their  peril,  and 
urged  them  to  desist  for  the  sake  of  their  own  rep- 
utation, if  for  no  other  reason.  "We  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  dissuading  them  from  their  purpose,  but 
through  it  all,  the  intended  object  of  their  ven- 
geance remained  perfectly  unmoved." 

A  member  of  the  Kentucky  Conference,*  who 
knew  him  well,  writes  thus : 

"  The  Rev.  John  Ray,  about  forty  years  ago,  was 
a  minister  of  very  marked  character,  of  the  Ken- 
tucky Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

*Eev.  Dr.  Ralston,  in  a  letter  to  tho  author. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  129 

He  was  a  man  of  large  stature — tall,  well-propor- 
tioned, rather  portly,  erect,  noble,  and  commanding 
in  appearance.  His  features  were  regular,  of  a 
strong,  masculine  cast.  Benignant  humor,  inde- 
pendent boldness,  uncompromising  firmness,  and 
biting  sarcasm,  were  strongly  written  upon  his 
countenance.  His  step  was  firm  and  elastic.  He 
was  of  graceful  and  commanding  mien.  His  com- 
plexion, though  dark,  was  not  swarthy.  His  hair — 
though  doubtless  originally  a  deep-brown — when  I 
first  saw  him,  was  a  magnificent  iron-gray,  stand- 
ing nearly  erect  upon  his  forehead,  and  hanging 
down,  from  ear  to  ear,  in  bushy  curls  upon  his 
shoulders. 

"A  man  of  such  personal  appearance,  we  may  rea- 
sonably suppose,  would  be  a  marked  and  decided 
character  in  whatever  sphere  he  might  move.  And 
such  he  was.  I  have  been  informed  that,  in  early 
life,  his  advantages  were  few,  his  education  limited, 
and  his  training  rough  and  little  refined.  He  was  a 
ringleader  in  all  the  frolicsome  amusements  and 
rough  sports  of  the  neighborhood.  He  could  out- 
run, outjump,  outfiddle,  outdance,  and  outbox  the 
most  celebrated  of  his  associates. 

"But  when  converted,  he  was  equally  bold  and 
decided.  He  soon  became  a  minister;  and  though, 
to  use  his  own  language,  he  often  '  drew  the  bow  at 
a  venture,'  he  seldom  failed  to  *  send  the  arrow  to 
the  heart'  of  some  of  *the  King's  enemies.'  He 
was  certainly  no  book-worm.  He  read  compara- 
tively but  little,  except  the  Bible  and  the  standard 
works  of  the  Church ;  yet  he  was  a  man  of  great 

VOL.  I.-  -5 


130  '  METHODISM 

quickness  of  perception,  and  keen,  practical  sense. 
He  thought  much  and  closely.  His  ideas  were 
clear ;  his  reasoning  strong  and  logical ;  his  method 
simple  and  natural ;  his  voice  strong,  melodious, 
and  manly;  his  emphasis  was  correct  and  impres- 
sive, and  his  manner  dignified  and  earnest.  Though 
ignorant  of  etymology  and  syntax,  his  language 
was  generally  in  accordance  with  grammar. 

"  With  him,  shrewdness  of  mother-wit  supplied, 
to  a  great  extent,  what  culture  had  denied.  In  the 
pulpit,  as  well  as  in  the  social  circle,  he  abounded 
in  pithy,  epigrammatic  remark.  His  illustrations, 
though  always  taken  from  the  common  affairs  of 
life,  and  sometimes  coarse,  were  pointed  and  forci- 
ble— always  understood  and  seldom  forgotten. 

"Many  amusing  incidents,  illustrative  of  his  ready 
wit  and  repartee,  have  been  told,  and  are  yet  in  the 
memory  of  his  friends.  He  became  noted  in  Ken- 
tucky, in  his  day,  for  his  strong  opposition  to 
slavery ;  and  was  quite  rough,  and  sometimes  offen- 
sive, in  the  manner  in  which  he  obtruded  that  sub- 
ject, especially  upon  people  of  the  world.  He 
would  seldom  lodge  at  the  house  of  a  slave-holder, 
if  he  could  well  avoid  it.  Often,  at  his  appoint- 
ments, when  invited  home  with  a  stranger,  his 
prompt  interrogatory  would  be :  '  Have  you  any  ne- 
groes?' In  the  Annual  Conference,  whenever  a 
preacher  was  proposed  for  admission,  every  eye 
would  be  turned  to  Father  Eay,  expecting  him  to 
arise,  as  was  his  custom,  and  say :  *  Mr.  President, 
has  he  any  negroes  ? ' 

"Once,  in  his  presence,  a  young  preacher  was 


IN     KENTUCKY.  131 

rather  boasting  that  he  was  very  popular  on  his  cir- 
cuit with  a  certain  denomination.  '  It  is  a  bad  sign, 
young  man,'  said  Father  Eay.  '  That  only  shows 
that  you  are  both  impudent  and  ignorant ;  for  those 
are  the  passports  to  popularity  in  that  quarter.' 

"In  his  own  neighborhood  resided  a  Baptist 
minister  named  John  S.,  familiarly  called  *  Eaccoon 
S.,'  who  also  was  a  man  of  much  wit.  These  min- 
isters had  many  a  friendly  sparring  together.  One 
day  they  met  in  the  road,  in  the  presence  of  some 
friends — Ray  returning  from  a  camp-meeting,  and 
S.  from  an  Association. 

"  '  How  do  you  do,  Brother  Ray  ? '  said  S.  *  You 
seem  to  be  returning  from  camp-meeting;  and  I 
suppose  you  had  the  devil  with  you,  as  usual.' 

"  '  1^0,  sir,'  replied  Ray  ;  '  he  had  not  time  to  leave 
the  Association.' 

"  Ray  generally  rode  a  very  superior  horse.  Once, 
as  he  was  riding  through  the  town  of  M.,  a  group 
of  young  lawyers  and  doctors,  seeing  him  approach, 
plotted  that  they  would  '  stump '  him,  in  some  way, 
when  he  came  up.  On  his  arrival,  their  chosen 
spokesman  commenced : 

" '  "Well,  Father  Ray,  how  is  it  that  you  are  so 
much  better  than  your  Master  ?  He  had  to  ride  on 
an  ass,  but  you  are  mounted  on  a  very  fine  horse. 
You  must  be  proud.  Why  do  n't  you  ride  as  did 
your  Master  ? ' 

"'For  the  simple  reason,'  said  Ray,  'that  there 
are  no  asses  now  to  be  obtained — they  turn  them 
all  into  lawyers  and  doctors.' 

"  They  said  no  more. 


132  METHODISM 

"  These  amusing  incidents,  though  of  little  conse- 
quence in  themselves,  serve  to  illustrate  the  charac- 
ter of  the  man.     We  add  but  one  more : 

"  He  was  celebrated  for  his  capacity  to  command 
order,  and  tame  the  ruffians  who  sometimes  infested 
camp-meetings.  On  one  occasion,  he  had  asked 
some  young  men  to  leave  the  seats  appropriated  to 
the  ladies.  They  did  not  obey;  whereupon  he  left 
the  stand,  and  was  approaching  toward  them,  when 
he  overheard  one  of  them  say  to  his  companion: 
*If  he  comes  to  me,  I'll  knock  him  down.'  Ray 
very  coolly  replied:  *You  are  too  light,  young 
man;'  and,  taking  him  by  the  hand,  led  him  quietly 
to  his  appropriate  seat.     He  misbehaved  no  more. 

"Though  years  have  elapsed  since  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  passed  from  earth  away,  numbers  are 
now  living  who  trace  their  religious  impressions  to 
his  labors. 

"  He  remained  in  Kentucky  some  years  after  he 
had  superannuated,  but,  previous  to  his  death,  he 
had  removed  to  Indiana. 

"  Hundreds  are  yet  living — not  only  in  Kentucky, 
but  in  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Missouri — who  once 
knew  him  well,  and  can  call  up,  with  the  freshness 
of  yesterday,  the  swelling  melody  that  rolled  from 
his  clear,  musical  voice,  as  he  would  lift  it  up  in  his 
favorite  hymn : 

"  '  Our  souls  by  love  together  knit, 
Cemented,  mixed  in  one  ! ' 

"But  this  laborious  servant  of  God  now  rests 
from  his  labors  in  his  Master's  kingdom.  He  and 
his  son  Edwin,  of  precious  memory  in  the  Indiana 


IN     KENTUCKY.  133 

Conference,  are  now  doubtless  singing  together  the 
'  song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb.' " 

John  Page  was  born  in  Fauquier  county,  Vir- 
ginia, :N'ovember  22,  1766.  In  1791,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Celia  DougLas ;  and,  in  1792,  he  entered  the 
itinerant  field. 

Of  his  early  life  and  training  we  have  no  record, 
nor  are  we  informed  in  reference  to  the  date  of  his 
conversion,  nor  of  the  instrumentality  through 
which  he  was  brought  to  Christ.  He  was  twenty- 
six  years  old  when  his  name  first  appears  on  the 
roll  of  the  Conference. 

Judge  Scott,  from  whom  we  have  already  quoted, 
says :  "  The  Rev.  John  Page  was  a  large,  splendid- 
looking  man,  of  an  open,  manly  countenance.  He 
possessed  a  sound,  discriminating  judgment,  and 
was  regarded  as  an  able,  useful  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel, wherever  he  traveled." 

From  1792  to  1859,  his  name  is  found  on  the  roll 
of  the  Conference,  with  the  exception  of  the  period 

embraced  in  the  years  between  1804  and  1825 

during  which  time  he  sustained  the  relation  to  the 
Church  of  a  local  preacher. 

The  first  four  years  of  his  itinerant  ministry  were 
spent  in  Kentucky,  on  the  Lexington,  Danville,  Salt 
River,  and  Limestone  Circuits.  In  1796,  he  was 
appointed  to  Green  Circuit,  in  East  Tennessee ;  but 
in  1797,  he  was  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  appointed 
to  the  Hinkstone  Circuit; and,  the  following  year,  to 
the  Salt  River  and  Shelby. 

In  1799,  he  had  the  distinguished  honor  of  suc- 
ceeding William  Burke  on  the  Cumberland  Circuit, 


134  METHODISM 

lying  partly  in  Tennessee  and  partly  in  Southern 
Kentucky. 

The  General  Minutes  of  1800  place  him  on  the 
Holston,  Eussell,  and  'New  River  Circuits,*  embrac- 
ing a  large  extent  of  territory  in  East  Tennessee 
and  Western  Virginia ;  but,  we  learn  from  a  letter 
written  by  himself,  as  well  as  one  written  by  Bishop 
Asbury — both  of  which  are  published  in  the  South- 
western Christian  Advocate,  of  March  22,  1844 — 
that  his  removal  from  the  Cumberland  Circuit  met 
with  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  people  whom  he  had 
served  with  much  usefulness  and  success.  He  had 
hardly  entered  upon  his  new  field  of  labor  until 
Episcopal  prerogative  called  him  away.f 

He  says :  "I  was  in  New  River  Circuit  w^hen  the 
letters  of  Bishops  Asbury  and  Whatcoat  were 
handed  me,  urging  me  to  hasten  to  Cumberland 
with  all  speed.  I  had  just  finished  my  sermon.  I 
took  my  dinner  and  started,  and  reached  my  des- 
tined place  as  soon  as  I  could.  The  work — as  it 
had  been — w^as  still  going  on."  -^ 


•^In  the  South-western  Christian  Advocate,  of  March  22,  1844, 
Mr.  Page  calls  this  appointment  New  Kiver,  Holston,  and  Clinch. 

f  Rev.  Learner  Blackman,  in  his  manuscript,  says:  "In  the  year 
1800,  Bishops  Asbury  and  Whatcoat,  accompanied  by  Elder  McKen- 
dree,  in  their  visit  to  the  "Western  country,  passed  through  the  set- 
tlements of  Cumberland.  The  work  of  the  Lord  was  going  on  in 
the  most  pleasing  manner ;  but  they  saw  that  the  Methodist  cause 
was  most  likely  to  suffer  in  consequence  of  the  neglect  of  Methodist 
Discipline.  They  immediately  transferred  John  Page  from  New 
Pdver  Circuit,  in  Virginia.  He  had  previously  been  stationed  in 
Cumberland,  and  was  one  of  the  principal  instruments,  under  God, 
of  the  great  revival,  so  much  talked  of  over  the  United  States." 


IN    KENTUCKY.  135 

The  work  to  which  he  alludes  was  that  extraordi- 
nary display  of  Divine  power,  which  began  in  1799, 
in  the  Cumberland  Circuit,  and  spread  with  unpar- 
alleled success  throughout  the  settled  portions  of 
ITorthern  or  Middle  Tennessee  and  Southern  Ken- 
tucky. If  this  remarkable  revival  of  religion  did 
not  owe  its  origin  to  the  instrumentality  of  John 
Page,  it  certainly  was  promoted  and  extended 
through  his  pious  labors  and  exertions.  In  the  sec- 
tion of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  in  which  he  la- 
bored, among  the  many  distinguished  ministers  of 
his  day,  he  was  always  the  central  figure — the  most 
commanding  person.  In  the  altar,  in  the  pulpit,  in 
the  social  circle — mingling  now  with  the  more 
wealthy  and  refined,  and  then  in  the  humble  cabins 
of  the  poor — he  vindicated  himself  as  a  useful  and 
faithful  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  until  his  name  in 
all  this  region  became  a  household  word — the  syno- 
nym of  all  that  is  good.  ITo  wonder  Bishop  As- 
bury  said,  in  his  letter  to  him:  "Had  I  attended 
at  the  last  Holston  Conference,  you  should  have  re- 
turned immediately  to  Cumberland.  I  should  hav^ 
had  the  petition  that  was  sent  for  your  return.  Had 
1  known  what  had  taken  place,  I  should  have  dis- 
missed you  when  I  passed  by  you.  I  hope  you  will 
now  hasten  to  that  charge  as  soon  as  possible.  The 
eternal  God  be  your  refuge  and  strength  !  " 

Uncommon  as  it  was  to  continue  a  preacher  any 
considerable  time  in  the  same  field  of  ministerial 
labor,  yet  w^e  find  that  this  remarkable  man  is  con- 
tinued on  the  Cumberland  Circuit  during  the  years 
1801  and  1802,  and  in  1803  we  find  him  in  charge 


136  METHODISM 

of  the  Cumberland  District  as  Presiding  Elder. 
This  District — including  only  four  separate  charges, 
namely,  Nashville,  (formerly  Cumberland,)  Eed 
River,  Barren,  and  ITatchez — was  confided  to  the 
supervision  of  John  Page;  while  he  had  for  his 
assistants  in  the  work  such  men  as  Thomas  Wilker- 
son,  Jesse  Walker,  James  Gwinn,  Jacob  Young, 
and  Tobias  Gibson. 

In  the  discharge  of  the  functions  of  his  office,  his 
long  rides,  his  constant  exposure,  together  Avith  his 
incessant  labors,  broke  down  a  constitution  that 
hitherto  had  refused  to  yield  to  the  exertions  of  so 
many  years ;  and  at  the  close  of  the  first  year  on 
the  District,  he  asked  for  and  obtained  a  location. 
After  this  period  his  name  appears  no  more  in  con- 
nection with  the  Church  in  Kentucky. 

In  1825,  he  was  readmitted  into  the  Tennessee 
Conference,  and  remained  a  worthy  member  of  that 
body  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  17th 
day  of  June,  1859 — only  eight  years  of  which  time 
he  was  able  to  preach  regularly,  sustaining  the  most 
of  the  time  a  superannuated  relation  to  the  Confer- 
ence. In  the  ninety- third  year  of  his  age,  and  the 
sixty-eighth  of  his  ministry,  the  "weary  wheels  of 
life  stood  still." 

We  make  the  following  brief  extract  from  the 
General  Minutes : 

"  Just  before  his  death,  he  declared  that  he  was 
ready  and  willing  to  die,  and  would  soon  be  done 
with  old  earth  and  all  its  troubles  and  afflictions — 
then  fell  into  a  sweet  sleep,  to  wake  up  in  the  land 
of  eternal  life." 


IN     KENTUCKY.  137 

111  contemplating  the  character  of  such  a  man, 
how  gratifying  to  the  Church  that  his  life  was  so 
protracted  !  He  had  seen  the  Church  in  its  infancy, 
when  it  seemed  to  be  only  "  a  reed  shaken  by  the 
wind ;"  he  marked  it  as  it  gradually  developed  and 
gathered  strength ;  and  he  beheld  it  as  his  sun  was 
setting — gigantic  in  its  proportions,  dispensing  its 
blessings  all  over  the  land.  "When  he  entered  the 
itinerancy  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  there  were 
but  two  Districts,  embracing  nine  Circuits,  and  onl}^ 
nineteen  traveling  preachers,  and  only  twenty-six  hun- 
dred and  seventy-four  white,  and  two  hundred  and  one 
colored  members.  At  the  time  of  his  death  there 
were,  in  the  same  territory,  five  Annual  Confer- 
ences, embracing  forty-four  Districts,  and  four  hun- 
dred and  eighty-six  Stations,  Circuits,  and  Missions, 
six  hundred  and  eighty-nine  traveling,  and  sixteen  hun- 
dred and  seventy-six  local  preachers,  and  a  member- 
ship of  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  thousand  five  hundred 
and  eighty  four  white,  and  thirty  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  ninety-six  colored ! 

If,  in  the  morning  of  his  life  and  the  strength  of 
his  manhood,  it  w^as  to  him  a  source  of  pleasure  to 
devote  his  energies  to  the  Church,  how  great  must 
have  been  the  satisfaction  he  derived,  as,  in  its 
evening,  he  contemplated  the  success  and  the  tri- 
umph Christianity  had  achieved ! 

The  following  letters — published  in  the  South- 
western Christian  Advocate,  of  March  22, 1844,  and 
entitled  "  Early  Methodism  in  the  South-west,"  with 
which  we  close  this  sketch — wall  be  read  with  inter- 
est, and  show  the  estimation  in  which  Mr.  Page 


138  METHODISM 

was  held  by  the  chief  pastors  of  the  Church.  They 
are  thus  introduced  by  the  editor  of  that  paper,  the 
Rev.  John  B.  McFerrin  : 

"  There  are  yet  among  us  a  few  of  the  fathers, 
who  were  the  associates  of  Bishop  Asbury,  and 
who  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Methodism  in  the 
South-west.  We  venerate  these  men,  and  shall 
ever  cherish  them  tenderly.  When  we  remember 
that  long  before  we  were  born,  and  when  this  vast 
country  was  a  wilderness,  with  only  here  and  there 
a  thinly  populated  settlement,  exposed  to  the  bar- 
barity of  savage  tribes,  these  men,  constrained  by 
the  love  of  Christ,  risked  all  to  preach  to  the  poor 
the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,  we  should  be 
justly  chargeable  with  ingratitude,  were  we  not  to 
highly  esteem  them  for  their  work's  sake. 

"  We  number  in  this  class  the  Rev.  John  Page, 
who  still  holds  a  place  in  the  Tennessee  Annual 
Conference,  and  usually  visits  our  body  at  our  an- 
nual meetings,  and  who  is  always  hailed  with  pleas- 
ure by  the  younger  members.  '  Father  Page,'  as  he 
is  familiarly  called,  is  one  of  those  sweet-spirited 
servants  of  God,  whom  the  wear  and  tear  of  years 
has  not  wrecked.  He  still  loves  God  and  loves  the 
Church,  and  is  a  beautiful  sample  of  a  simple, 
plain,  old-fashioned  Methodist  preacher. 

"In  his  palmy  days  he  could  perform  as  much 
labor  and  endure  as  much  suffering  as  any  of  his 
colleagues,  and  was  in  the  midst  of  the  glorious  re- 
vival which  swept  over  this  country  about  half  a 
century  ago.     He  has  favored  us  with  two  letters 


IN    KENTUCKY.  139 

which  have  never  been  published — one  from  Bishop 
Asburj,  the  other  from  Dr.  Coke.  These  are 
accompanied  with  a  short  note  from  Father  Page, 
which  we  take  the  liberty  to  lay  before  our  readers. 
Father  Page's  letter,  though  dated  December  3, 
1843,  was  retained  by  him  until  a  few  days  past 
This  was  owing  to  our  absence  during  the  winter." 

"Dear  Brother  McFerrin: — I  send  you,  with 
these  lines,  the  Bishops'  letters,  to  read  and  exam- 
ine. Do  with  them  what  you  may  think  best,  only 
take  care  of  them.  Publish  all  or  any  part,  as  you 
may  think  proper.  It  may  be  necessary  for  me  to 
state  why  I  was  sent  to  Cumberland  in  1799. 
Brother  William  Burke  preceded,  and  had  a  con- 
troversy with  James  Haw,  an  0 'Kelly ite,  who  ex- 
pected to  get  the  whole  circuit  to  join  him ;  but  he 
failed  in  his  attempt,  and  did  not  so  much  as  influ- 
ence his  wife  to  join  him.  When  Burke  left,  he 
promised  to  send  me,  (as  the  members  of  the  circuit 
told  me  when  I  came.)  When  I  did  come,  I  found 
no  opposition,  and  that  year  all  was  quiet,  and  God 
blessed  us  with  a  good  revival ;  and  the  last  part  of 
the  year  I  was  invited  into  two  of  their  meeting- 
houses, they  having  no  pastor  at  Shiloh.  I  left  in 
March  for  Holston  Conference,  and  from  thence  to 
Baltimore.  The  Bishop  then  appointed  me  to  'New 
Biver,  Holston,  and  Clinch.  I  was  in  New  Biver 
Circuit  when  the  letter  of  Bishops  Asbury  and 
Whatcoat  was  handed  to  me,  urging  me  to  hasten 
to  Cumberland  with  all  speed.  I  had  just  finished 
my  sermon.    I  took  dinner  and  started,  and  reached 


140  METHODISM 

my  destined  place  as  soon  as  I  could.  The  work — 
as  it  had  been — was  still  going  on.  Arminius*  has 
greatly  misrepresented  the  work  in  Cumberland. 
He  states  that  the  revival  first  began  at  Gasper,  or 
Muddy  Kiver,  among  Presbyterians.  This  is  not 
so.  It  might  have  begun  there  among  the  Presby- 
terians, but  not  among  us  :  we  had  a  good  work  in 
l^ashville  Circuit  the  year  before.  John  and  Wil- 
liam Carr  are  men  acquainted  with  the  whole  re- 
vival scenes  of  that  day.  Alexander  Rasco,  one  of 
our  local  preachers,  got  religion  in  1799.  I  have 
troubled  you  with  my  scribbling.  Bear  with  and 
believe  me  to  be  your  friend  and  brother  in  Christ 
Jesus,  John  Page. 

"  Smith  county,  Tennessee,  December  3,  1843." 

"The  date  of  Bishop  Asbury's  letter  is  torn  off; 
but  we  gather  from  it  and  Father  Page's  note,  that 
it  was  written  at  Yan  Pelt's, ,  1799. — Ed.  Adv,'' 

LETTER    OF    BISHOP   ASBURY. 

"  My  Dear  Page  : — I  have  only  time  to  write  a 
few  lines.  *  *  *  *  Had  I  attended  at  the 
last  Holston  Conference,  you  should  have  returned 
immediately  to  Cumberland.  I  should  have  had 
the  petition  that  was  sent  for  your  return.  Had  I 
known  what  had  taken  place,  I  would  have  dis- 
missed you  when  I  passed  by  you.  I  hope  you  will 
now  hasten  to  that  charge  as  soon  as  possible  :  the 
eternal  God  be  your  refuge  and  strength.      To  save 

■^Arminius  is  a  writer  who  gave,  some  years  since,  sketches  of 
early  Methodism  in  the  West. — Ed.  Adv. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  141 

time,  I  hope  Brother  Watson  will  take  your  place, 
and  Brother  Hunter,  Brother  Watson's.  Green 
must  be  left.  If  I  can  send  help  from  South  Caro- 
lina, I  will.  When  you  come  to  Cumberland,  you 
will  see  if  Brother  Young  or  Grenade  will  be  best 
spared  to  come  to  Green.  We  borrowed  two  jackets 
of  yours,  we  will  leave  at  Yan  Pelt's.  I  purpose 
riding  half  the  year,  upon  horseback,  upon  the 
frontiers  of  the  work.  We  shall  always  attend  the 
Western  Conferences,  while  able. 
"  I  am,  with  great  affection,  thine, 

"Francis  Asbury." 

postscript  by  bishop  whatcoat. 


a 


My  Dear  : — Hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped  us. 
Glory  to  his  great  name  !  We  cannot  do  too  much 
for  so  gracious  a  benefactor.  I  hope  you  think  no 
labor  too  great  nor  cross  too  heavy  to  bear  for  him 
that  bought  you  with  blood.  The  Lord  hath  given 
the  alarm — the  set  time  to  visit  Zion  has  now  come. 
What  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might. 
May  Israel's  God  be  thy  strength  and  thy  salvation  ! 
"  With  due  respect,  thy  brother  in  Christ, 

"E.  Whatcoat." 

LETTER   OF   DR.    COKE. 

"  My  Yery  Dear  Brother  : — The  great  revival 
on  the  Continent  rejoices  me  exceedingly — yea, 
more,  I  can  truly  say,  than  a  revival  in  any  other 
country  in  the  world.  I  have  read  to  thousands, 
and  shall  read,  God  willins^,  to  tens  of  thousands. 


142  METHODISM 

the  accounts  I  have  already  received  of  the  progress 
of  the  work  in  Maryland,  Delaware,  and  Tennes- 
see. I  am  glad  to  find  that  my  old  venerable  col- 
leagues are  able,  by  traveling  separately,  to  preside 
at  all  the  Annual  Conferences.  I  frequently  travel 
with  them  in  spirit,  and  never  forget  them  and  my 
other  American  brethren  any  night  whatever,  while 
I  am  bowing  my  knees  before  the  throne.  I  am 
yours  to  command ;  and  consider  my  solemn  ofter 
of  myself  to  you  at  the  General  Conference  before 
last,  to  be  as  binding  on  me  now  as  when  first 
made ;  and  nothing  shall  keep  me  from  a  final  resi- 
dence with  you,  when  I,  God  willing,  meet  you  at 
your  next  General  Conference,  but  such  an  interfer- 
ence of  Divine  Providence  as  does  not  at  present 
exist,  and  such  as  shall  convince  the  General  Con- 
ference that  I  ought  to  tear  myself  from  you. 
ITothing  less,  I  do  assure  you,  shall  prevail  with  me 
to  leave  you. 

"  The  work  of  God  still  goes  on  in  a  very  blessed 
manner  in  Ireland.  I  lately  returned  from  taking 
a  tour  of  that  country.  There  is  nothing  at  present 
very  remarkable  in  the  work  in  Britain ;  but  I 
am  in  hopes  that  I  shall  stir  up  my  British  brethren 
to  jealousy,  by  first  reading  to  them,  and  then 
printing,  the  delightful  and  animating  accounts  I 
have  received  from  several  of  my  American  breth- 
ren. I  am  glad  that  Brother  Cooper  has  published 
the  Irish  account.  I  intend  soon  to  draw  up  and 
print  another  account  of  the  farther  progress  of  the 
work  in  Ireland. 

"  I  bless  the  Lord,  I  am  happy,  constantly  happy 


IN     KENTUCKY.  143 

in  God ;  and  I  feel  myself  more  than  ever  drawn 
toward  my  American  brethren  by  the  cords  of  love. 
Let  me  hear  from  you  by  some  merchant-ship,  di- 
recting to  me  at  the  'New  Chapel,  City  Road,  Lon- 
don— whence  all  letters  are  safely  sent  to  me,  if  I 
be  not  there. 

^'I  am  glad  to  find,  by  Brother  Asbury,  that  you 
universally  press  upon  your  believing, hearers  the 
necessity  of  sanctification  and  entire  devotedness  to 
God ;  and  that  you  guard  them  from  seeking  this, 
as  it  were,  by  the  deeds  of  the  law ;  and  that  you 
urge  them  to  believe  now  on  a  present  Saviour  for  a 
present  salvation.  Point  out  also  in  every  sermon 
the  absolute  necessity  of  the  knowledge  of  salva- 
tion by  the  remission  of  sins — the  witness  of  the 
Spirit — the  bright  evidence  of  our  interest  in  the 
Saviour's  blood.  Lukewarm  endeavors  are  not  suf- 
ficient now  to  pull  down  the  fortresses  of  infidelity. 
They  must  be  attacked  by  all  the  power  of  God ; 
and,  as  humble  instruments,  we  must  get  at  the 
hearts  of  our  hearers.  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  the 
wretched  formalists  are  disappearing  like  the  dew 
of  the  morning ;  and  we  can  fight  infidelity  with- 
out a  screen  betwixt.  Let  us,  then,  dear  brethren, 
'aim  at  being  cities  set  upon  a  hill — at  being  the 
lights  of  the  world — at  being  the  salt  of  the  earth  ; 
and,  poor  earthen  vessels  as  we  are — weak  things, 
and  things  that  are  not — victory  itself  shall  be  en- 
listed on  our  side,  because  Almighty  God  will  be 
on  our  side.  0  what  a  ravishing  view  the  Lord 
sometimes  favors  me  with  of  your  immense  conti- 
nent, filled  with  inhabitants,  and  filled  with  sons  of 


144  METHODISM 

God !  The  word  of  promise  is  on  our  side,  ratified 
by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  It  therefore  must  be 
so,  for  God  hath  spoken  it. 

"  Pray  for  your  faithful  friend  and  brother, 

"T.  Coke. 

"  Liverpool,  March  3,  1802. 

"  Do  write  to  me  once,  before  I  see  you,  if  you 
possibly  can.  I  enjoy  excellent  health — the  blessing 
of  God ;  and  I  do  assure  you,  my  brother,  I  have 
no  other  intention  but  to  pass  the  remainder  of  my 
poor  life  with  you,  from  the  next  General  Confer- 
ence, God  willing.  T.  C." 

This  year  closed  the  labors  of  Wilson  Lee  in 
Kentucky.  He  had  entered  the  District  in  1787, 
and  for  six  years  he  had  been  untiring  in  his  energy 
in  preaching  the  gospel  of  the  Redeemer.  But 
now,  with  wasted  health  and  constitution  broken, 
unable  longer  to  remain  and  labor  for  the  cause  he 
loved  so  well,  he  naturally  turns  his  thoughts  to  the 
older  settlements,  cherishing  the  hope  of  a  return 
of  health.  Many  hearts  were  touched  at  his  de- 
parture. He  had  wept  and  prayed,  and  labored  and 
suffered,  with  the  infant  Church,  and  had  seen  the 
fruit  of  his  toil.  Of  him  one  of  his  cotempora- 
ries*  thus  speaks : 

"Wilson  Lee  was  one  of  the  most  successful 
preachers  among  those  early  adventurers.  He  was 
a  man  of  fine  talents,  meek  and  humble,  of  a  sweet 
disposition,  and  not  only  a  Christian  and  Christian 

*Rov.  William  Burke,  in  Western  Methodism,  pp.  G8,  69. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  145 

minister,  but  much  of  a  gentleman.  During  his 
stay  in  Kentucky — from  1787  to  1792 — he  traveled 
over  all  the  settlements  of  Kentucky  and  Cumber- 
land, much  admired  and  beloved  by  saint  and  sin- 
ner. In  the  spring  of  1792,  in  company  with 
Bishop  Asbury,  he  crossed  the  wilderness  from 
Kentucky  to  Virginia,  where  I  met  him  at  Confer- 
ence on  Holston  ;  and  from  thence  to  the  eastward, 
and  attended  the  first  General  Conference  at  Balti- 
more, IlTovember  1,  1792;  and  remained  in  the 
bounds  of  the  'New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  Balti- 
more Conferences,  till  he  departed  this  life,  in  1804, 
at  Walter  Worthington's,  Anne  Arundel  county, 
Maryland.  The  last  time  I  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  him  was  in  Georgetown,  District  of  Colum- 
bia, on  my  way  to  the  General  Conference  of  May 
1,  1804.  He  was  then  in  a  very  feeble  condition. 
His  affliction  was  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs,  of 
which  he  died.  During  the  time  he  traveled  in 
Kentucky  he  passed  through  many  sufferings  and 
privations,  in  weariness  and  want,  in  hunger  and 
nakedness,  traveling  from  fort  to  fort,  sometimes 
with  a  guard  and  sometimes  alone — often  exposing 
his  life.^' 

The  causes,  to  which  a  reference  has  already  been 
made,  as  having  a  tendency  to  retard  the  growth  of 
the  infant  Church,  were  in  no  degree  lessened :  in 
addition  to  which,  the  minds  of  the  people  were 
occupied  to  a  great  extent  by  the  questions  that 
would  necessarily  grow  out  of  the  organization  of 
the  Government  of  the  State. 

Notwithstanding  much  had  been  done  since  the 


146  METHODISM 

first  arrival  of  Messrs.  Haw  and  Ogden,  in  1786,  yet 
we  have  to  lament  a  smaller  increase  this  year  than 
any  that  had  preceded  it.  Only  ninety  members 
more  are  reported  than  the  previous  year. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  147 


CHAPTER   VI. 

FROM  THE  CONFEEENCE  OF  1793  TO  THE  CONFERENCE 
OF  1794. 

Conference  held  this  year  in  Kentucky  at  Masterson's  Station — 
Dangers  encountered  by  Bishop  Asbury  to  reach  Kentucky  —  His 
immense  labors — Jacob  Lurton — James  Ward — William  Burke — 
John  Ball — Gabriel  Woodfield — Death  of  Henry  Birchett. 

The  Conference  for  the  West,  for  the  year  1793, 
was  held  in  Kentucky,  at  Masterson's  Station — the 
same  place  at  which  it  convened  three  years  pre- 
vious. The  session  commenced  on  Tuesday,  the 
80th  of  April,  and  embraced  the  first  and  second 
days  of  May.* 

To  reach  the  seat  of  the  Conference,  Bishop  As- 
bury again  encountered  the  dangers  of  the  wilder- 
ness. His  route  from  Tennessee  to  Kentucky  led 
him  by  "  Doe  River,  at  the  fork,  and  through  *  the 
Gap,'  presenting  a  most  gloomy  scene,  not  unlike 
the  Shades  of  Death  in  the  Alleghany  Mountains." 

On  his  way  he  held  ''a  Conference  at  Nelson's, 
near  Jonesboro,"  where  they  had  "sweet  peace." 

Anticipating  trouble  from  the  Indians,  he  ex- 
presses trust  in  God,  and  feels  sure  that,  "  if  God 

*The  Rev.  William  Burke  says:  "On  the  loth  of  April,  1793,  the 
Conference  met  at  Masterson's  Station."  (Western  Methodism,  p.  36.) 
We,  however,  prefer  to  follow  Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  II.,  p.  194. 


148  METHODISM 

suffer  Satan  to  drive  the  Indians  "  on  his  company, 
"  he  will  teach  their  hands  to  war,  and  their  fingers 
to  fight  and  conquer." 

The  session  of  the  Conference  was  a  delightful 
one.  The  deliberations  were  marked  with  candor — 
^'  openly  speaking  their  minds  to  each  other  " — and 
it  closed  "under  the  melting,  praying,  praising 
power  of  God." 

There  was  but  little  business  transacted  of  which 
we  have  any  record.  The  only  entry  made  is,  that 
"  trustees  were  appointed  for  the  school,  and  sundry 
regulations  made  relative  thereto."  They  also 
"  read  the  Form  of  Discipline  through,  section  by 
section,  in  Conference." 

The  day  after  Conference  he  preached  from 
Habakkuk  iii.  2,  and  some  of  the  "people  were 
moved  in  an  extraordinary  manner;"  and  the  next 
day  he  arrives  "  at  Bethel,  and  holds  a  meeting  with 
the  newly  elected  trustees." 

Bishop  Asbury  deeply  laments  the  decay  of  moral 
power,  and  makes  a  touching  allusion  to  "the  want 
of  religion  in  most  houses." 

During  his  brief  stay  in  Kentucky — entering  the 
State  on  the  10th  of  April,  and  leaving  it  on  the 
10th  of  May — he  attended  two  quarterly  meetings ; 
one  of  which  was  held  at  Humphries's  Chapel,  and 
the  other  at  Clark's  Station.  Almost  every  day  he 
preached  to  listening  hundreds,  urging  the  Church 
to  awake  from  its  lethargy,  and  sinners  to  turn 
to  God.  He  traverses  nearly  the  entire  of  Central 
and  South-eastern  Kentucky — exposing  himself  to 
danger,   preaching  the  gospel,  and   administering 


IN    KENTUCKY.  149 

the  sacraments — until,  utterly  exhausted  by  his  im- 
mense labors,  he  says:  "I  cannot  stand  quarterly 
meetings  every  day :  none  need  desire  to  be  an 
American  Bishop  on  our  plan,  for  the  ease,  honor, 
or  interest  that  attends  the  office."  But  amid  all 
this  exertion  and  labor,  worn  out  with  traveling 
and  preaching,  he  exclaims  :  "Yet,  blessed  be  God, 
I  live  continually  in  his  presence,  and  Christ  is  all 
in  all  to  my  soul !" 

During  his  stay  in  Kentucky,  he  had  the  pleasure 
of  visiting  the  Kev.  Francis  Clark,  the  pioneer 
preacher  of  the  Methodist  Church,  who,  in  a  local 
relation,  had  formed  the  first  class,  previous  to 
the  arrival  of  Messrs.  Haw  and  Ogden  in  the  Dis- 
trict. 

Jacob  Lurton,  James  Ward,  William  Burke,  John 
Ball,  and  Gabriel  Woodfield  this  year  receive  ap- 
pointments in  Kentucky.  Messrs.  Lurton,  Ward, 
Burke,  and  Ball  were  present  at  the  Conference. 

There  were  five  circuits  in  the  State,  and  the  Ap- 
pointments were : 

Francis  Poythress,  Presiding  Elder.  Salt  River — 
Jacob  Lurton,  James  Ward;  Danville — William 
Burke,  John  Page,  John  Sewell ;  Lexington — John 
Ball,  Gabriel  Woodfield ;  Hinkstone— Richard  Bird ; 
Limestone — Benjamin  Northcutt. 

Jacob  Lurton  had  entered  the  connection  in  1786, 
and  traveled  that  year  on  the  West  Jersey  Circuit. 
In  1787,  he  labored  on  the  Berkeley  Circuit,  in  the 
State  of  Virginia;  the  following  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Redstone  Circuit,  in  Pennsylvania. 
In  1789,  he  returns   to  Virginia,  and  travels  the 


150  METHODISM 

Clarksburg  Circuit;  the  subsequent  year  the  Ka- 
nawha. He  spends  the  years  1791  and  1792  in  Mary- 
land, on  the  Baltimore  and  Harford  Circuits ;  and 
in  1793,  he  was  transferred  to  Kentucky,  and  ap- 
pointed to  the  Salt  River  Circuit — the  most  difficult 
to  travel  and  the  most  laborious  of  any  in  the  State. 

In  the  various  appointments  on  which  Mr.  Lurton 
had  labored  and  suffered,  he  had  been  the  instru- 
ment of  good.  Whether  in  West  Jersey,  Virginia, 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  or  in  the  wilderness  of  the 
West,  he  was  zealous  in  the  promotion  of  the 
kingdom  of  the  Redeemer.  His  last  year  in  the 
itinerant  ministry  was  1794.  His  circuit  was  the 
Cumberland,  but  the  latter  six  months  of  the  year 
were  spent  on  the  Salt  River  Circuit.  On  both  of 
these  circuits  he  was  useful  and  beloved. 

In  the  Cumberland  Circuit,  under  his  labors, 
there  was  an  interesting  revival  of  religion,  which 
extended  into  Kentucky.  He  carried  the  tidings 
of  salvation  into  Logan  county — at  that  time  re- 
markable for  its  vice — and  was  the  first  to  proclaim 
the  story  of  the  cross  to  the  people  there.  In  the 
humble  cabin  of  Mr.  Cartwright — the  father  of  the 
Rev.  Peter  Cartwright — in  that  county,  he  "preached 
with  great  power,"  while  the  "  congregation  were 
melted  to  tears." 

Soon,  however,  his  health  failed  him,  and  in  the 
retirement  of  a  local  sphere  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  days. 

He  married  a  Miss  Tooley,  on  Beargrass  Creek, 
in  Jefferson  county,  and  for  many  years  resided  on 
Floyd's  Fork  of  Salt  River— where,  still  fiiithful  to 


IN    KENTUCKY.  151 

the  dispensation  of  the  gospel  committed  to  him, 
he  continued  to  preach,  as  his  health  would  permit. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  "an  original  genius,"  as 
well  as  "  a  useful  preacher."  He  at  length  removed 
to  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  settled  near  Alton, 
where  he  died  in  great  peace. 

James  Ward,  who  this  year  was  the  colleague  of 
Mr.  Lurton,  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1792,  in  the 
Baltimore  Conference,  and  appointed  to  the  Holston 
Circuit — at  that  time  on  the  Western  frontier. 

With  the  exception  of  1793,  when  his  appoint- 
ment was  to  the  Salt  Eiver  Circuit,  in  Kentucky,  he 
spent  the  first  fifteen  years  of  his  itinerant  life  in 
connection  with  the  Baltimore  Conference — preach- 
ing chiefly,  during  this  period,  in  the  rugged  settle- 
ments of  Western  Virginia. 

The  four  years  previous  to  his  transfer  to  Ken- 
tucky— which  occurred  in  1807 — he  presided  over 
the  Greenbrier  District,  where  his  labors  were 
greatly  blessed.  During  the  entire  period  of  his 
early  ministry,  he  was  one  of  the  most  useful,  as 
well  as  one  of  the  most  laborious,  of  the  pioneer 
preachers.  Persons  who  knew  him  in  the  evening 
of  his  life,  could  scarcely  form  any  adequate  idea  of 
his  pulpit  abilities  when  in  the  fiower  of  manhood. 
He  was  born  and  brought  up  in  Princess  Anne 
county,  Maryland.  In  early  childhood  he  was  left 
an  orphan.  His  mother  inclined  to  the  Church  of 
England,  and  endeavored  to  train  him  in  obedience 
to  the  stifi*  forms  of  that  Communion.  He,  how- 
ever, was  brought  in  contact  with  the  Methodist 
preachers,  and  through  their  instrumentality,  in  the 


152  METHODISM 

seventeenth  year  of  his  age,  was  awakened,  con- 
verted, and  brought  into  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  His  mother  was  strenuously  opposed  to 
the  step  he  had  taken,  but  the  opposition  was  soon 
overcome  by  his  zeal  for  religion  and  the  sanctity 
of  his  life. 

Impressed  with  the  conviction  that  he  ought  to 
devote  himself  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  diffi- 
culties of  an  embarrassing  character  seemed  to 
hedge  up  his  way.  The  care  of  the  family  had 
been  left  to  him  as  a  sacred  legacy  by  his  father,  pre- 
vious to  his  death ;  his  mother  strenuously  opposed 
his  entering  the  itinerancy;  and  the  interest  and 
the  cares  of  home  demanded  his  attention.  Amid 
these  obstacles  he  earnestly  sought  the  path  of 
duty.  "  The  love  of  Christ  constrained  him."  The 
victory  was  gained ;  and,  not  disregarding  his  filial 
obligations,  but  making  ample  provision  for  his 
mother  and  the  remainder  of  the  family,  he  entered 
upon  the  "hazardous  enterprise  of  Methodist  itin- 
erancy."* 

In  1789,  he  was  licensed  to  preach ;  shortly  after 
which  "he  was  called  out  by  the  Rev.  Hichard 
"Whatcoat,  then  Presiding  Elder,  to  fill  a  vacancy 
on  Dover  Circuit,  Delaware."  f  It  was  not,  how- 
ever, until  1792,  that  his  name  appears  on  the  Con- 
ference roll. 

From  the  very  hour  of  his  entrance  into  the 
Conference  until  his  death — covering  a  period  of 

*  Letter  from  his  son,  the  Rev.  Joseph  G.  Ward,  of  the  Little  Rock 
Conference. 

t  General  Minutes  M.  E.  Church,  Vol.  VI.,  p.  13. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  l53 

sixty-three  years — his  devotion  to  the  Church  was 
characterized  by  untiring  zeal ;  while,  in  the  va- 
rious charges  he  filled,  the  most  extraordinary  revi- 
vals of  religion  were,  under  God,  the  result  of  his 
labors. 

During  the  early  years  of  his  ministry,  while  con- 
nected with  the  Baltimore  Conference,  "he  labored 
chiefly  in  the  valley  and  mountain  sections  of  Vir- 
ginia. Many  pleasing  reminiscences  of  his  great 
success  in  winning  souls  to  Christ  still  remain 
among  the  inhabitants  of  those  regions.  The  men 
and  women  who  were  young  two  generations  ago 
speak  with  raptures  of  his  untiring  zeal,  his  almost 
exhaustless  energy,  his  overwhelming  ministrations. 
They  ranked  him  among  the  ablest  and  most  suc- 
cessful men  of  his  times."* 

In  1807,  he  was  regularly  transferred  to  the 
"Western  Conference,  and  stationed  on  the  Lexing- 
ton Circuit,  while  his  family  resided  on  a  farm  in 
Jefferson  county,  which  he  had  purchased. 

At  the  General  Conference  of  1808,  the  Rev. 
"William  McKendree,  the  Presiding  Elder  on  the 
Cumberland  District,  was  elected  to  the  Episcopal 
office.  On  the  District  Mr.  Ward  was  his  suc- 
cessor. At  this  time  the  Cumberland  District  com- 
prised twelve  separate  pastoral  charges,  embracing 
within  its  territorial  limits  the  whole  of  Southern 
Kentucky,  a  portion  of  Middle  Tennessee,  the  ter- 
ritories of  Illinois  and  Missouri,  and  the  inhabited 
settlements  of  Indiana.     To  accomplish  his  work, 

^General  Minutes  M.  E.  Church,  Vol,  VI.,  p.  13. 


154  METHODISM 

"he  had,  in  some  pUxces,  to  carry  his  provisions  with 
him,  and  he  out  in  the  woods  or  prairies  at  night."  * 
He  remained  on  this  District  hut  one  year,  during 
which  he  astonished  the  people  by  his  zeal ;  while 
great  displays  of  Divine  power  were,  everywhere 
within  its  bounds,  seen  and  felt  under  his  minis- 
trations. 

In  the  years  1809  and  1810,  we  find  him  on  the 
Kentucky  District,  the  successor  of  the  illustrious 
William  Burke.  This  District — embracing  the 
country  around  Maysville  and  Flemingsburg— ex- 
tended into  the  central  portion  of  the  State,  in- 
cluding the  settlements  along  the  Licking  River; 
the  blue-grass  lands  of  Fayette  and  Mercer  coun- 
ties— embracing  Frankfort,  Shelbyville,  and  Louis- 
ville, and  throwing  its  lengthening  lines  across 
Green  River,  and  to  the  banks  of  the  Cumberland — 
was  the  field  to  be  occupied  by  James  Ward. 

During  the  two  years  of  his  supervision  of  the 
Kentucky  District,  the  same  success  that  had  every- 
where previously  crowned  his  labors  was  still  to  be 
seen.  The  following  year  he  was  appointed  to  the 
Shelby  Circuit ;  and  then  for  two  years  he  presided 
over  the  Salt  River  District ;  when,  with  impaired 
health,  and  a  growing  family  to  support  and  to  edu- 
cate, he  asked  for  and  obtained  a  location ;  in  which 
relation  he  continued  until  1828. 

In  this  sphere,  however,  he  had  no  ease.  His 
zeal  for  the  cause  of  Christ  found  no  abatement 
whatever.     "  Working  diligently  with  his  hands, 

-5<- Letter  from  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Ward. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  155 

he  embraced  every  opportunity  of  preaching.  He 
spent  no  idle  Sabbaths  when  it  was  possible  for  him 
to  get  to  church.  He  kept  up  regular  appoint- 
ments, and  was  always  willing  to  assist  the  traveling 
preachers  at  camp-meetings  and  two-days'  meetings, 
and  spent  much  of  his  time  from  home."*  Wher- 
ever he  attended  meetings,  he  bore  an  active  part 
in  the  exercises — whether  in  the  pulpit,  making 
his  appeals  to  sinners,  or  in  the  altar,  impressing 
upon  the  penitent  the  "  exceeding  great  and  pre- 
cious promises  "  of  the  word  of  God. 

In  1828,  he  was  readmitted  into  the  Kentucky 
Conference;  but,  after  traveling  three  years,  he 
became  superannuated,  which  relation  he  sustained 
until  1833 ;  and  from  that  period  until  1840,  he 
traveled  circuits,  yet  was  unable  to  do  more  than 
meet  his  regular  appointments,  from  which  he  was 
seldom  absent. 

In  1840,  his  name  disappears  from  the  effective 
list,  to  be  placed  on  it  no  more.  From  that  time 
until  his  death  he  sustained  a  superannuated  re- 
lation. 

In  the  controversy  which  arose  between  the  two 
divisions  of  the  Methodist  Church,  in  the  General 
Conference  of  1844,  he  took  his  position  with  the 
Northern  branch ;  and  in  1848,  he  asked  admittance 
into  the  Baltimore  Conference,  and  "the  Confer- 
ence, without  controversy,  by  a  unanimous  vote, 
directed  that  his  name  should  be  recorded  upon  the 
list  of  superannuated  members." 

*  Letter  from  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Ward. 


156  METHODISM 

"  On  the  13th  of  April,  1855,  in  the  eighty-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  and  the  sixty-third  of  his  itinerant 
ministry,  he  departed  this  life,  near  Floydsburg, 
Kentucky.  His  death  seems  to  have  been  less  the 
result  of  any  particular  disease  than  the  gradual 
wearing  away  of  life's  weary  wheels.  The  heavenly 
inheritance  was  bright  before  him  to  the  last  mo- 
ment. His  sun  went  down  without  a  cloud.  His 
spirit,  without  a  struggle,  returned  to  his  God."* 

As  a  preacher,  Mr.  Ward  was  not  what  the  world 
would  call  eloquent.  There  was  nothing  rhetorical 
in  his  gestures,  nor  did  he  appeal  to  the  s^^mpathetic 
passions  of  the  people.  His  preaching  was  scrip- 
tural ;  and  this,  with  the  fact  that  he  was  a  man  of 
prayer,  always  trusting  in  God,  was  the  basis  of  his 
great  success. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Conferences  of 
1804  and  1808.  He  was  also  elected  to  the  General 
Conference  of  1812,  but  through  modesty  declined.f 

This  year  introduces  the  name  of  William  Burke 
into  the  history  of  Methodism  in  Kentucky.  Among 
the  early  Methodist  preachers  of  the  West,  William 
Burke  stood  preeminently  high.  With  the  fortunes 
of  the  struggling  cause  he  became  identified,  the 
previous  year,  when  he  joined  the  Conference,  and 
was  appointed  to  Green  Circuit,  in  East  Tennes- 
see. In  1793,  in  charge  of  the  Danville  Circuit, 
with  Page  and  Sewell  for  his  colleagues,  he  entered 
the  ranks  in  Kentucky,  and  from  that  period  until 
1812  he  spent  the  most  of  his  time  in  this  extensive 

*  General  Minutes  M.  E.  Church,  Vol.  VI.,  pp.  13,  14. 
f  Judge  Scott. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  i'o  i 

field.  Occasionally  the  demands  of  the  Church 
elsewhere  require  his  services,  and  he  is  found  pro- 
claiming a  Kedeemer's  love  on  Guilford  Circuit, 
North  Carolina,  and  on  Holston,  in  the  State  of 
Virginia.  Two  years  of  this  time  he  traveled  the 
Cumberland  Circuit,  lying  chiefly  in  Middle  Ten- 
nessee. In  1804  and  1805,  his  field  of  labor  is  the 
Ohio  District,  embracing  the  extensive  territory 
along  the  waters  of  the  Muskingum,  the  Little 
Kanawha,  Hockhocking,  Scioto,  Miami,  and  Guyan- 
dotte  Eivers.  The  remainder  of  the  time,  embrac- 
ing thirteen  years,  he  devoted  his  energy  and 
strength  to  Kentucky.  Prompted  by  motives  of 
the  sublimest  character — the  love  of  Christ  and  the 
salvation  of  the  people — ^he  enters  upon  his  work 
with  the  certainty  of  success. 

The  declension  in  piety,  to  w^hich  allusion  has 
already  been  made,  had  reached  the  Danville  Cir- 
cuit.    Mr.  Burke  says : 

"  We  received  our  appointments  at  the  close  of 
the  Conference,  and  separated  in  love  and  harmony. 
I  was  this  year  appointed  to  Danville  Circuit,  in 
charge,  and  John  Page  as  helper.  We  entered 
upon  our  work  w^ith  a*  determination  to  use  our  best 
endeavors  to  promote  the  Kedeemer's  kingdom. 
The  circuit  w^as  in  but  a  poor  condition.  Discipline 
had  been  very  much  neglected,  and  numbers  had 
their  names  on  the  class-papers  who  had  not  met 
their  class  for  months.  We  applied  ourselves  to  the 
discharge  of  our  duty,  and  enforced  the  Discipline, 
and,  during  the  course  of  the  summer,  disposed  of  up- 
ward of  one  hundred.    We  had  some  few  additions, 


158  METHODISM 

but,  under  God,  laid  the  foundation  for  a  glorious 
revival  the  next  and  following  years.  The  bounds 
and  extent  of  this  circuit  were  large,  including  the 
counties  of  Mercer,  Lincoln,  Garrard,  and  Madison. 
The  west  part  of  the  circuit  included  the  head- 
waters of  Salt  River,  and  Chaplin  on  the  north ; 
bounded  by  Kentucky  Eiver  south  and  east,  and 
extended  as  far  as  the  settlements — takins^  four 
weeks  to  perform  the  round.  There  were  three  log 
meeting-houses  in  the  circuit:  one  in  Madison 
county,  called  Proctor's  Chapel;  one  in  the  forks 
of  Dix  River,  Garrett's  Meeting-house ;  and  one  on 
Shoenea  Run,  called  Shoney  Run.  Not  far  from 
Harrod's  Station,  in  Mercer  county,  during  the 
course  of  this  year,  a  new  meeting-house  was 
erected  in  Garrard  county,  considered  the  best 
meeting-house  in  the  country,  and  they  named  it 
Burke's  Chapel.  I  remained  on  Danville  Circuit 
till  the  first  of  April,  1794,  and  on  the  15th  our 
Conference  commenced  at  Lewis's  Chapel,  in  Jessa- 
mine county,  in  the  bounds  of  Lexington."  * 

Such  is  his  own  account  of  his  labors  for  this 
year.  In  1794,  his  appointment  is  to  the  Hinkstone 
Circuit,  then  including  Clark,  Bourbon,  and  Mont- 
gomery counties ;  f  and  in  1795,  he  has  charge  of 
the  Cumberland,  embracing  Middle  Tennessee  and 
Southern  Kentucky.  We  have  already  noticed  the 
influence  he  exerted  in  the  Cumberland  Circuit,  in 
arresting  the  tide  of  opposition  to  the  Methodist 

*  Western  Methodism,  p.  37. 

file  remained  on  Hinkstone  only  until  the  first  quarterly  meeting, 
when  he  was  removed  to  the  Salt  River  Circuit. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  159 

Episcopal  Church,  when  almost  the  entire  commu- 
nity had  been  enticed  from  its  teachings  by  the 
leading  advocate  of  the  views  of  Mr.  0 'Kelly. 
The  declaration  of  the  Rev.  Learner  Blackman, 
that  "an  almost  expiring  cause  was  saved" — in  his 
reference  to  the  controversy  between  William 
Burke  and  James  Haw — is  a  worthy  tribute  to  the 
talents  and  devotion  to  the  Church  of  the  former. 
From  this  period  the  Methodist  Church,  embraced 
in  what  was  then  the  Cumberland  Circuit,  took  a 
more  elevated  position ;  and  from  that  date  to  the 
present  time,  its  influence  within  the  same  territory 
has  been  more  commanding  than  that  of  any  other 
denomination  of  Christians. 

The  following  account  of  the  debate  with  Mr. 
Haw  is  from  William  Burke  himself: 

"  On  inquiry,  I  found  that  James  Haw,  who  was 
one  of  the  first  preachers  that  came  to  Kentucky, 
had  located  and  settled  in  Cumberland,  and  em- 
braced the  views  of  O 'Kelly,  and  by  his  influence 
and  address  had  brought  over  the  traveling  and 
every  local  preacher  but  one  in  the  country  to  his 
views,  and  considerable  dissatisfaction  had  obtained 
in  many  of  the  societies.  Under  these  circum- 
stances I  was  greatly  perplexed  to  know  what 
course  to  take — a  stranger  to  everybody  in  the 
country,  a  young  preacher,  and  Haw  an  old  and 
experienced  preacher,  well  known,  a  popular  man, 
and  looked  up  to  as  one  of  the  fathers  of  the 
Church,  and  one  who  had  suflered  much  in  planting 
Methodism  in  Kentucky  and  Cumberland.  After 
much  reflection  and  prayer  to  God  for  direction,  I 


160  METHODISM 

finally  settled  upon  the  following  plan,  namely,  to 
take  the  Discipline  and  examine  it  thoroughly,  se- 
lecting all  that  was  objected  to  by  O 'Kelly,  and 
those  who  adhered  to  him,  and  then  undertake  an 
explanation  and  defense  of  the  same.  I  accordingly 
met  Brother  Speer  at  J^ashville,  and  after  preaching, 
requested  the  society  to  remain,  and  commenced 
my  work.  When  I  concluded  my  defense,  I  took 
the  vote  of  the  society,  and  they  unanimously  sus- 
tained the  positions  I  had  taken.  Brother  Speer 
also  asked  the  privilege  of  making  a  few  remarks. 
He  stated  to  the  society  that  he  would  consider  the 
Church  as  a  house  that  he  lived  in ;  and  notwith- 
standing the  door  was  not  exactly  in  the  place  he 
should  like  it,  or  the  chimney  in  the  end  that  best 
pleased  him,  yet  he  could  not  throw  away  or  pull 
down  his  house  on  that  account ;  and  therefore  he 
concluded  that  he  would  not  throw  away  the 
Church,  although  some  things,  he  thought,  could 
be  improved  in  the  Discipline.  In  consequence  of 
this  victory  on  my  first  attempt,  I  took  courage,  and 
proceeded  with  my  work  in  every  society ;  and,  to 
my  utter  astonishment,  I  succeeded  in  every  place, 
and  saved  every  society  but  one  small  class  on  Red 
River,  where  a  local  preacher  lived  by  the  name  of 
Jonathan  Stevenson,  who  had  traveled  the  circuit 
two  years  before,  and  located  in  that  neighborhood. 
Haw  and  Stevenson  appointed  a  meeting  on  Red 
River,  and  invited  the  Methodists  all  over  the  cir- 
cuit to  attend  the  meeting,  for  the  purpose  of  or- 
ganizing the  new  Church.  The  result  was,  that 
only  ten  or  twelve  members  offered  themselves,  and 


IN    KENTUCKY.  161 

the  most  of  them  had  formerly  belonged  to  the 
Baptist  Church.  Having  failed  in  every  attempt  to 
break  up  the  societies,  the  next  step  was  to  call  me 
to  a  public  debate.  I  accepted  his  challenge,  and 
the  day  was  appointed  to  meet  at  Station  Gap,  one 
of  the  most  popular  neighborhoods,  and  convenient 
to  a  number  of  large  societies.  ISTotwithstanding  I 
accepted  the  challenge,  I  trembled  for  the  cause.  I 
was  young  in  the  ministry,  and  inexperienced  in 
that  kind  of  debate.  He  was  an  old  minister,  of 
long  experience,  and  of  high  standing  in  the  com- 
munity. I  summoned  up  all  my  courage,  and,  like 
young  David  with  his  sling,  I  went  forth  to  meet 
the  Goliath.  The  day  arrived,  and  a  great  con- 
course of  people  attended.  The  preliminaries  were 
settled,  and  I  had  the  opening  of  the  debate.  The 
Lord  stood  by  me.  I  had  uncommon  libert}^,  and 
before  I  had  concluded,  many  voices  were  heard  in 
the  congregation,  saying,  ^  Give  us  the  old  way ! ' 
Mr.  Haw  arose  to  make  his  reply  very  much  agi- 
tated, and  exhibited  a  very  bad  temper,  being  verj* 
much  confused.  He  made  some  statement  that 
called  from  me  a  denial,  and  the  people  rose  up  to 
sustain  me,  which  was  no  sooner  done  than  he  was 
so  confused  that  he  picked  np  his  saddle-bags  and 
walked  off,  and  made  no  reply.  This  left  me  in 
possession  of  the  whole  field,  and  from  that  hour 
he  lost  his  influence  among  the  Methodists,  and  his 
usefulness  as  a  preacher.  In  this  situation  he  re- 
mained until  1801 ;  and  when  the  great  revival 
began  in  Tennessee  among  the  Presbyterians  and 
Methodists,  he  connected  himself  with  the  former, 

VOL.  I. — 6 


162  METHODISM 

and  ended  his  days  among  them  as  a  preacher."* 
In  1796,  he  was  appointed  to  Guilford,  JSTorth 
CaroHna;  the  following  year,  to  Holston,  in  Vir- 
ginia. In  1798,  he  returned  to  the  Cumberland; 
and  from  that  period  until  1812,  his  labors  were 
confined  to  Kentucky,  with  the  exception  of  the 
years  1804  and  1805,  which  he  spent  on  the  Ohio 
District.  In  the  great  revival  in  the  interior  of 
Kentucky,  in  1801,  known  as  the  Cane  Kidge  re- 
vival, he  was  the  leading  spirit.  During  the  period 
of  his  ministry  in  Kentucky,  revivals  of  religion 
followed  his  labors  everywhere ;  and  in  those  sec- 
tions of  the  State  favored  with  his  ministrations, 
either  as  the  Presiding  Elder  of  a  District,  or  in 
the  relation  of  a  pastor,  Methodism  assumed  a  more 
permanent  and  enduring  form  than  it  had  done  be- 
fore. He  was  not  only  an  earnest  preacher  of  the 
gospel,  but  an  able  defender  of  the  truth.  In  the 
religious  controversies  that  disturbed  the  quietude 
of  the  Church  throughout  the  State,  Mr.  Burke 
bore  an  active  part.  Calvinism,  deformed  as  it 
always  appears,  was  truly  hideous  under  his  mighty 
touch.  In  his  controversy  with  the  advocates  of 
exclusive  immersion,  he  always  put  them  to  silence 
and  to  shame.  Challenged,  on  one  occasion,  to  a 
debate  with  a  Baptist  minister,  on  the  subjects  and 
mode  of  baptism,  near  Mount  Sterling,  Kentucky, 
after  "  occupying  about  four  hours  on  the  subjects 
and  mode  of  baptism,  he  turned  to  the  Baptist 
preachers,  who  sat  behind  him  in  the  stand,  and 

*Wostcrn  Methodism,  pp.  4G,  47,  48. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  163 

told  them  if  they  had  any  thing  to  say,  he  would  be 
glad  to  hear  it.  They  consulted  together,  and  then 
replied  that  they  had  nothing  to  say."*  If  the  pe- 
culiarities and  economy  of  Methodism  were  assailed, 
he  w^as,  on  all  occasions,  equal  to  their  defense. 
"  He  had  become  so  notorious  for  his  skill  and  suc- 
cess in  controversy,  as  to  be  feared  by  all  belliger- 
ent parties."  t  To  preach  the  gospel  to  the  people 
of  Kentucky,  no  man  was  better  prepared  than  he. 
The  privations  of  frontier  life  could  not  discourage 
him.  Bold  and  fearless,  he  was  twice  the  leader  of 
the  company  by  whom  Bishop  Asbury  was  guarded 
into  Kentucky.  "  He  was  "  also  "the  first  Secre- 
tary of  an  Annual  Conference  in  America;"  J  and 
was  a  member  of  the  General  Conferences  of  1804 
and  1808.  We  will  here,  however,  take  leave  of 
Mr.  Burke  for  the  present ;  but  we  shall  frequently 
meet  with  him  in  the  prosecution  of  our  work. 

John  Ball,  who  also  came  to  Kentucky  this  year, 
had  entered  the  lists  as  an  evangelist  in  1790, 
although  his  name  is  not  among  the  Appointments 
for  that  year — an  error  in  the  Minutes.  In  1791, 
he  traveled  the  Russell  Circuit,  in  Virginia ;  and  in 
1792,  the  Cumberland,  in  Tennessee.  In  Ken- 
tucky, we  find  him,  in  1793,  on  the  Lexington  Cir- 
cuit, where  he  only  remains  for  one  year,  when  he 
is  reappointed  to  the  Cumberland  in  1794 ;  at  the 
close  of  which  year  he  located.  Of  his  success 
on  the  Lexington  Circuit  we  have  no  information. 

*Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper,  in  Home  Circle,  Vol.  II.,  p.  282. 

flbid. 

J  Western  Methodism,  p.  20. 


164  METHODISM 

He  is  represented  b}^  one  who  knew  him,*  as  a 
"  son  of  thunder.  He  smote  with  his  hands  and 
stamped  with  his  feet.  He  warned  the  people  faith- 
fully to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come." 

"  He  was  about  medium  height,  rather  slender, 
but  compactly  built.  He  was  lirm,  independent, 
and  opinionated.  He  was  regarded  as  a  pious,  use- 
ful minister,  of  the  medium  grade,  and  was  well 
received  wherever  he  traveled.  He  was  a  bold, 
intrepid  man,  who  never  turned  his  back  on  an  en- 
emy ;  and,  if  my  information  be  correct,  he  and  the 
Eev.  "William  Burke  were  two  of  the  guards,  who, 
in  1793,  met  Bishop  Asbury  some  distance  east  of 
the  Cumberland  Mountains,  and  conducted  him  to 
the  Kentucky  Conference  and  back  again."  f 

The  name  of  Gabriel  Woodfield  appears  only  for 
the  present  year  on  the  roll  of  the  Conference. 
Among  the  names  of  those  "admitted  on  trial," 
that  of  Woodfield  is  omitted,  and  we  only  find  him 
mentioned  as  one  of  the  preachers  on  the  Lexing- 
ton Circuit.  As  a  local  preacher,  he  came  to  Ken- 
tucky from  Pennsylvania  at  an  early  day.  He  was 
"of  the  first  order  of  local  preachers," J  and  in 
that  capacity  "labored  with  success."  Anxious  to 
extend  the  sphere  of  his  usefulness,  he  ofiered  him- 
self to  the  Conference ;  but,  from  some  cause,  only 
spent  one  year  in  the  itinerant  work.  We  after- 
ward find  him,  in  1802,  as  a  local  preacher,  faith- 
fully  dispensing   the  word   of  life — in   his   pulpit 

*  John  Carr,  in  Christian  Advocate,  February  5,  1857. 

f  Judge  Scott. 

J  Western  Methodism,  p.  63. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  165 

labors  "rising  above  all  his  clouds,"  and  ''preach- 
ing excellent  sermons."*  He  removed  from  Fay- 
ette county,  where  he  had  settled  on  his  arrival  in 
Kentucky,  to  Henry  count3\  Previous  to  his  death, 
"  he  removed  to  Indiana,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Madison."  There  he  resided  to  a  good  old  age  ; 
when,  like  a  ripe  sheaf  ready  for  the  garner,  in  the 
full  enjoyment  of  the  Christian's  hope,  he  sweetly 
fell  asleep,  surrounded  by  his  friends  and  connec- 
tions. 

Previous  to  this  date  but  few  churches  had  been 
erected  in  Kentucky,  and  they  were  humble  ones. 
Besides  the  log  structure  at  Masterson's  Station — 
which  was  put  up  in  1787  or  '88 — a  similar  house 
had  been  built  in  1790,  in  the  Salt  River  Circuit,  at 
Poplar  Flats,  and  bore  the  name  of  Ferguson's 
Chapel — to  which  allusion  has  already  been  made — 
after  the  worthy  local  preacher  who  labored  so 
faithfully  in  the  cause  of  God  in  that  section. 
About  the  same  time  a  log  meeting-house  was 
erected  in  Jessamine  county,  near  Bethel  Academy, 
and  called  LcAvis's  Chapel ;  Proctor's  Chapel,  in 
Madison  county ;  Garrett's  Meeting-house,  in  the 
forks  of  Dix  River,  and  a  house  on  Shoenea  Run, 
had  also  been  built.  During  this  year  Burke's 
Chapel  was  built,  in  Garrard  county ;  Humphries's 
Chapel  had  also  been  built — at  which  place  Bishop 
Asbury  had  attended  a  quarterly  meeting  on  the 
13th  of  April  of  this  year. 

"We  are  called  upon  this  year  to  record  the  death 

*  Jacob  Young's  "Autobiography,"  p.  69. 


166  METHODISM 

of  Heniy  Birchett,  tlie  third  itinerant  minister, 
who  had  been  connected  with  the  work  in  Ken- 
tucky, to  pass  away — including  the  Eev.  Samuel 
Tucker,  who  was  murdered  b}^  the  Indians.* 

Among  the  pioneer  preachers  who  came  to  Ken- 
tuck}^,  no  one  was  more  devoted  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  or  prosecuted  his  calling  with  greater 
ardor,  than  the  subject  before  us.  He  was  born  in 
Brunswick  county,  Virginia,  (the  time  of  his  birth 
is  not  known.)  After  laboring  for  two  years  in  the 
State  of  ISTorth  Carolina,  he  freely  offered  himself 
as  a  missionary  to  the  West.  In  the  year  1790,  he 
was  appointed  to  the  Lexington  Circuit,  where, 
with  untiring  zeal,  he  labored  assiduously  and  use- 
fully for  two  years.  In  1792,  he  was  removed  to 
the  Salt  Eiver  Circuit,  where,  it  is  said,  "he  was 
eminently  useful."  f 

'No  circuit  in  Kentucky  was  more  trying  to  the 
constitution  than  this — spreading  over  a  vast  ex- 
tent of  territory,  sparsely  settled,  accommodations 
poor,  rides  long,  and  preaching  almost  every  day ; 
"requiring  more  labor  and  suffering  than  any  other 
in  the  country."  His  slender  constitution  necessa- 
rily gave  way.  At  the  close  of  the  year  it  was  the 
judgment  of  his  friends  that  he  ought  to  desist 
from  preaching  until  he  recovered.  He  was  present 
at  the  Conference  at  Masterson's  Station,  "in  a 
poor  state  of  health,"  and  was  suffering  from 
"weakness  in  his  breast  and  spitting  of  blood." 
Owing  to  the  scarcity  of  preachers,  great  difficulty 

*  See  puge  75.  f  Western  Metho'lism,  p.  GO. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  1G7 

existed  in  providing  for  the  Cumberland  Circuit, 
and  it  was  decided  to  leave  it  without  a  preacher 
for  the  present.  Under  these  circumstances  Henry 
Birchett,  wan  and  pale,  asked  the  privilege  of  sup- 
plying it.  He  turned  to  Bishop  Asbury  and  said : 
"Here  am  I;  send  me!"  His  brethren  remon- 
strated against  his  going.  Two  hundred  miles  lay 
between  the  seat  of  the  Conference  and  this  distant 
field ;  the  life  of  the  traveler  was  every  hour  imper- 
iled by  the  Indians ;  the  small-pox  was  prevailing 
through  all  the  country ;  and  his  health  was  already 
wrecked  by  labor  and  exposure.  Every  influence 
that  could  be,  was  brought  to  bear  upon  him  to 
dissuade  him  from  his  purpose ;  but  in  vain.  To 
all  their  arguments  and  remonstrances  he  replied : 
"  If  I  perish,  who  can  doubt  of  my  eternal  rest,  or 
fail  to  say,  'Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous, 
and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his'?"  He  entered 
upon  his  work  soon  after  the  adjournment  of  the 
Conference,  and  with  commendable  zeal  pushed 
forward  the  victories  of  the  cross,  though  in  feeble 
health,  until  the  summer  and  autumn  had  passed 
away,  when  he  was  compelled  to  cease  his  labors. 
James  Hoggatt,  a  gentleman  of  wealth  and  of  lib- 
erality, residing  two  miles  west  of  ]^ashville,  in- 
vited the  weary  and  way-worn  itinerant  to  the  hos- 
pitalities of  his  home.  There  he  remained,  visited 
by  friends  who  loved  him — the  recipient  of  every 
kind  attention — until,  in  the  month  of  February, 
1794,  he  breathed  his  last,  in  hope  of  eternal  life. 

"James  Haw  asked  him,  in  the  time  of  his  last 
illness,  if  he  had  any  temptations.     He  replied  he 


168  METHODISM 

bad,  for  he  had  too  much  anxiety  to  die;  'but, 
glory  to  God ! '  be  said,  '  I  am  resigned  to  the  will 
of  my  Master.'  Another  person  standing  by  dis- 
covered the  blood  settling  under  his  nails,  and  told 
him  the  Master  had  come.  He  replied,  '  I  am  glad 
of  it,'  and  began  crying,  'Glory,  glory  to  God!' 
until  his  hands  fell  upon  his  breast,  and  he  expired 
in  peace."  * 

At  his  own  request,  he  was  wrapped  in  white 
flannel  and  committed  to  the  silent  grave. 

'No  man  had  been  connected  with  the  ministry 
for  so  short  a  time,  to  wdiom  the  Church  and  his 
fellow-laborers  in  the  work  were  more  ardently  at- 
tached. He  was,  perhaps,  the  best  pastor  in  the 
West.  He  regarded  the  children  as  the  future  hope 
of  the  Church,  and  improved  every  opportunity 
that  offered  in  their  catechetical  instruction,  so  that 
by  the  children  he  was  remembered  with  affection 
long  after  he  had  entered  into  rest. 

The  printed  Minutes  say :  "He  was  one  among 
the  w^orthies  who  freely  left  safety,  ease,  and  pros- 
perity, to  seek  after  and  suffer  faithfully  for  souls." 

Il'^otwithstanding  the  zealous  efforts  that  had  been 
made  to  promote  the  cause  of  religion,  the  net 
increase  for  this  year  w^as  only  eleven  members. 
There  had,  however,  been  a  sifting  throughout  the 
Churches,  and  the  most  of  them  were  in  a  more 
healthy  condition  than  they  w^ere  the  previous  year. 

*Bev.  Learner  Blackman. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  169 


CHAPTER   VII. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1794  TO  THE  CONFERENCE 
OF  1796. 

Gen.  Anthony  Wayne — Gen.  St.  Clair — His  expedition  against  the 
Indians  unsuccessful — The  campaign  of  1794 — The  battle  near  the 
rapids  of  the  Miami — Gen.  Wayne's  victory  complete — The  Indian 
war  brought  to  a  successful  termination — Treaty  of  peace  con- 
cluded— The  Conference  of  1794 — John  Metcalf — Thomas  Scott — 
Peter  Guthrie — Tobias  Gibson — Moses  Speer — Conference  of  1795 
— William  Duzan — John  Buxton — Aquila  Sugg — -Francis  Acuff: 
his  death — Thomas  Wilkerson — Decrease  in  membership. 

In  the  year  1792,  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  an  officer 
of  distinction  in  the  United  States  service,  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  "Washington  as  successor  to 
Gen.  St.  Clair,  in  the  command  of  the  army  en- 
gaged against  the  Indians  on  the  Western  frontier. 
The  depredations  of  the  Indians  upon  Kentucky 
were  not  only  incessant,  but  most  disastrous  to  the 
safety  of  the  people,  as  well  as  to  the  prospects  of 
the  Commonwealth.  The  efforts  that  had  hitherto 
been  made  to  secure  the  State  against  these  incur- 
sions, had  proved  ineffectual.  The  expedition  of 
Gen.  St.  Clair,  a  short  time  previous,  had  been  not 
only  unsuccessful,  but  calamitous.  In  the  summer 
and  autumn  of  1793,  Gen.  Wayne  began  to  make 
preparations  for  another  campaign.  The  season, 
however,  was  too  far  advanced  for  active  operations, 


170  METHODISM 

and  the  invasion  of  the  country  of  the  hostile  tribes 
was  postponed  until  the  following  year.  Before 
marching  into  the  enemy's  country  that  gallant  of- 
ficer made  one  more  attempt  to  obtain  peace,  which, 
however,  failed. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  20th  of  August,  1794, 
he  marched  into  the  heart  of  the  hostile  country, 
and  attacked  the  Indians  in  a  formidable  posi- 
tion which  they  occupied,  near  the  rapids  of  the 
Miami."  The  victory  was  complete.  The  Indians 
were  thoroughly  defeated,  and  the  war  was  brought 
to  a  successful  termination ;  and  in  1795,  he  con- 
cluded a  definite  treaty  of  peace,  which  was  ob- 
served until  the  war  of  1812.* 

The  Conference  of  1794  met  at  Lewis's  Chapel, 
in  the  Lexington  Circuit.  "We  find  upon  the  Min- 
utes of  this  year  the  names  of  three  preachers  who 
had  not  previously  appeared  in  Kentucky:  John 
Metcalf,  Thomas  Scott,  and  Peter  Guthrie. 

John  Metcalf  was  admitted  into  the  itinerancy  in 
1790.  He  had  traveled  four  years  before  he  came 
to  Kentucky,  three  of  which  were  spent  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  one  in  !N"orth  Carolina.  In  1794,  he  was 
transferred  from  the  Virginia  Conference  to  the 
work  in  Kentucky,  and  was  stationed  on  the  Lex- 
ington Circuit.  We  have  no  means  at  present  of 
ascertaining  whether  or  not  he  was  successful  on 
this  circuit.  The  printed  Minutes  show  a  consider- 
able decrease  on  the  Lexington  Circuit,  yet  this 
may  be  the  result  of  change  in  the  territorial  limits 

*Collins's  Kentucky. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  171 

of  the  several  pastoral  charges  in  the  State.  After 
this  his  name  disappears  from  the  Minutes.  We 
learn  from  Mr.  Burke  that  he  subsequently  became 
Principal  of  Bethel  Academy— the  immediate  suc- 
cessor of  Valentine  Cook. 

Thomas  Scott,  who  this  year  was  transferred  from 
the  Baltimore  Conference  to  Kentucky,  deserves 
more  than  a  passing  notice.  He  was  born  in  Alle- 
ghany county,  Maryland,  October  31,  1772.  In  the 
fourteenth  year  of  his  age  he  was  soundly  con- 
verted, and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Before  he  was  seventeen  years  old  he  was  received 
on  trial  into  the  Conference,  and  appointed  to 
Gloucester  Circuit;  the  subsequent  year  he  was  the 
junior  preacher  on  Berkeley  Circuit;  and  in  1791, 
we  find  him  in  charge  of  Stafford  Circuit— all 
lying  in  the  State  of  Virginia.  In  1792,  he  traveled 
the  Frederick  Circuit,  in  Maryland;  and  the  fol- 
lov/ing  year  he  was  sent  to  the  Ohio  Circuit,  a  field 
of  labor  of  great  extent,  stretching  along  the  fron- 
tier settlements  of  the  Ohio  River  in  western  Penn- 
sylvania and  Virginia.  In  the  spring  of  1794,  he 
descended  the  Ohio  Biver,  to  join  the  band  of  itin- 
erants in  Kentucky,  and  was  present  at  the  Confer- 
ence which  convened  on  the  15th  day  of  April. 

He  embarked  on  a  flat-boat  at  Wheeling,  laden 
with  provisions  for  Gen.  Wayne's  army,  and  landed 
where  Maysville  now  stands.  He  was  appointed  to 
the  Danville  Circuit,  on  which,  William  Burke  in- 
forms us,  there  was  an  extensive  revival  of  religion. 
At  the  Conference  of  1795,  he  located;  but,  in 
1796,  at  the  request  of  the  Rev.  Francis  Poythress, 


172  METHODISM 

the  Presiding  Elder,  he  took  cho,rge  of  the  Lexing- 
ton Circuit,  in  the  place  of  Aquila  Sugg,  whose 
health  had  failed,  until  the  ensuing  Annual  Confer- 
ence. This  circuit  spread  over  the  present  territory 
of  Fayette,  Jessamine,  Woodford,  Franklin,  Scott, 
and  Harrison  counties,  and  included  portions  of 
Bourhon  and  Clarke.  The  appointments  were 
filled  every  four  weeks,  and  the  circuit  had  within 
its  hounds  the  following  preaching-places  :  Lexing- 
ton, Reynolds's,  Widow  Prior's,  Lewis's  Chapel, 
Burns's,  Versailles,  Frankfort,  Snelling's,  Griffith's, 
Widow  Waller's,  Col.  Thomas  Morris's — below 
Cynthiana,  Coleman's  Chapel,  Tucker's,  Smith's, 
Matthews's,  Col.  Robert  Wilmot's,  White's,  Ew- 
bank's,  and  Bryant's.  A  class  had  been  previously 
formed  at  each  one  of  these  points,  and  Mr.  Scott 
represents  the  most  of  them  as  in  a  healthy  condi- 
tion. The  one  in  Lexington,  however,  he  speaks 
of  as  being  small,  though  in  it  were  ''  several  ex- 
cellent members,  who  were  ornaments  of  society."  * 
At  the  close  of  this  year  his  labors  as  an  itinerant 
minister  ceased. 

A  short  time  afterward  he  was  married,  and 
turned  his  attention  to  secular  pursuits.  For  a 
brief  period  he  was  a  clerk  in  a  dry-goods  store  in 
Washington,  Mason  county.  He  then  turned  his 
attention  to  the  study  of  law,  and  while  prosecuting 
his  legal  studies,  in  order  to  support  his  family,  he 
worked  at  the  tailoring  business — some  idea  of 
which  he   had   gathered,    in   early  life,   from   his 

*  Judge  Scott's  inanuscri[it. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  173 

father,  wlio  was  a  tailor.  Anxious  to  render  him 
every  assistance,  his  wife  devoted  her  leisure  time 
in  reading  to  her  husband  Blackstone's  Commenta- 
ries and  other  law-books,  while  he  plied  his  needle 
upon  his  board. 

In  the  fall  of  1798,  he  removed  to  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  where,  under  the  Hon.  James  Brown, 
he  prosecuted  his  preparations  for  the  bar.  In 
1800,  he  obtained  license  to  practice  law,  and  set- 
tled in  Flemingsburg.  In  1801,  he  emigrated  to 
Ohio,  and  settled  in  Chillicothe,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death. 

In  the  State  of  Ohio  he  held  various  civil  offices, 
and  always  discharged  their  functions  to  the  satis- 
faction of  those  wdio  had  confided  them  to  his  trust. 
In  1809,  he  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  of  Ohio 
one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  the 
next  year  was  reelected,  and  commissioned  Chief 
Judge  of  that  court.  In  1815,  "  finding  the  salary 
insufficient  for  his  support,  he  resigned  his  seat  on 
the  bench,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law."  He 
afterward  held  several  offices,  and  filled  positions 
of  high  responsibility.* 

"On  the  13th  day  of  February,  1856,  in  the 
bosom  of  his  family,  and  surrounded  by  friends,  his 
spirit  peacefully  departed,  without  a  struggle  or 
groan,  to  the  God  that  gave  it."t 

By  his  brethren  of  the  bar  he  was  held  in  high 
esteem.     On   the   second  day  after  his  death  the 


*Finley's  Sketches  of  Western  Methodism. 

f  Extract  from  proceedings  of  the  Ross  County  (Chillicothe)  Bar. 


174  METHODISM 

members  of  the  bar  of  Ross  county  met  in  Chilli- 
cothe,  and  adopted  resolutions  expressive  of  their 
high  veneration  for  his  memory.  The  Scioto  Lodge 
of  Masons  also  passed  similar  resolutions,  in  which 
they  state  that  "  he  met  death  with  calmness  and 
manly  resignation  ;  "  that,  '•  after  a  long  life  of  use- 
fulness, honorable  bearing,  and  beneficent  liberality, 
he  confronted  death  with  an  unquailing  eye,  and 
passed  away  from  earth,  to  realize  that  future  which 
God  has  promised  to  the  pure  in  heart."  But  it 
was  his  Christian  character  that  shone  with  bright- 
est luster.  As  a  pioneer  preacher  in  Kentucky,  he 
spent  two  years  in  the  itinerant  service  of  the 
Church,  faithfully  prosecuting  the  great  work  of  the 
ministry ;  and  then  retiring  to  the  local  ranks,  he 
still  devoted  every  energy  within  his  power  to  the 
welfare  and  prosperity  of  the  Church  he  loved  so 
well.  To  locate — hazardous  as  is  always  the  step — 
did  not  release  his  conscience  of  the  obligation  to 
preach  the  gospel,  nor  did  it  weaken  his  desire  for 
the  salvation  of  the  people.  As  long  as  he  re- 
mained in  Kentucky,  he  faithfully  prosecuted  his 
ministerial  calling ;  and  when  he  settled  in  Ohio,  he 
at  once  became  a  representative  man  in  the  infant 
cause.  Through  a  long  and  eventful  life  he  held 
fast  his  profession,  maintained  his  ministerial  stand- 
ing, and  everywhere  avowed  himself  a  follower  of 
the  "meek  and  lowly  Jesus."  No  wonder,  then, 
that  he  met  death  with  composure,  and  felt  ready 
for  the  summons. 

It  is  always  a  cause  of  regret  to  the   Church, 
when  a  laborious  and  useful  minister  of  the  gospel 


IN     KENTUCKY.  175 

retires  from  the  itinerant  field,  and  especially  if  in 
the  flower  of  his  manhood.  There  was,  perhaps, 
no  one  among  the  early  pioneers,  who  promised 
greater  usefulness  to  the  Church  than  Mr.  Scott; 
and  while  it  is  a  pleasing  reflection  that  he  never 
stained  the  judicial  ermine  by  any  act  of  wrong, 
nor  soiled  his  Christian  character  as  he  mingled 
with  the  turmoil  and  strife  of  political  life,  yet  our 
pleasure  would  be  heightened  if  we  could  record 
that  his  noble  life  had  been  exclusively  devoted  to 
the  work  of  the  ministry. 

Of  Peter  Guthrie  we  know  but  little.  He  en- 
tered the  Conference  this  year,  and  was  appointed 
to  the  Salt  River  Circuit,  and  the  following  year  to 
the  Cumberland ;  and  then  we  lose  sight  of  him 
altogether. 

The  name  of  Tobias  Gibson  is  also  in  the  list  of 
the  Appointments  in  Kentucky ;  but  we  like^vise 
find  him,  for  the  same  year,  appointed  to  the  Union 
Circuit,  in  North  Carolina.  The  Minutes  read: 
"  Union — Tobias  Gibson,  one  quarter,''  We  do  not 
find  sufficient  evidence  to  justify  the  belief  that  he 
spent  any  portion  of  this  year  in  Kentucky.  Xone 
of  his  cotemporaries,  so  far  as  we  are  advised,  make 
any  allusion  to  him  in  this  department  of  the  work ; 
and  in  the  brief  account  of  his  life  and  labors  pub- 
lished in  the  General  Minutes,*  no  reference  what- 
ever is  made  to  his  appointment  to  Kentucky'.  The 
probabilities  are  that  he  remained  during  the  whole 
year  in  the  South ;  yet  it  will  not  be  improper  to 

*  Vol.  I,  p.  125. 


176  METHODISM 

refer  to  him  in  this  connection.  He  was  a  native 
of  South  Carolina,  and  was  born  l^Tovemher  10, 
1771,  in  Liberty  county,  on  the  Great  Pedee.  He 
lived  only  thirteen  years  after  he  entered  the  trav- 
eling connection ;  three  of  which  were  spent  in 
South  Carolina,  four  in  ^orth  Carolina,  one  on 
Holston ;  and  the  last  five  years  in  Mississippi,  as 
missionary  to  !N"atchez — where  he  died  on  the  5th 
day  of  April,  1804. 

Among  the  early  Methodist  preachers  there  was 
no  one  more  self-sacrificing  or  more  zealous  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  labors  than  Mr.  Gibson.  His 
biographer  says :  "  What  motive  induced  him  to 
travel,  and  labor,  and  suffer  so  much  and  so  long  ? 
He  had  a  small  patrimony  of  his  own,  that,  im- 
proved, might  have  yielded  him  support.  The 
promise  of  sixt^^-four  dollars  per  annum,*  or  two- 
thirds,  or  one-half  of  that  sum — -just  as  the  quar- 
terly collections  might  be  made  in  the  circuits — 
could  not  be  an  object  with  him.  His  person  and 
manners  were  soft,  affectionate,  and  agreeable.  His 
life  was  a  life  of  devotion  to  God.  He  was  greatly 
given  to  reading,  meditation,  and  prayer.  He  very 
early  began  to  feel  such  exertions,  exposures,  and 
changes,  as  the  first  Methodist  missionaries  had  to 
go  through  in  spreading  the  gospel  in  South  Caro- 
lina and  Georgia — preaching  day  and  night.  His 
feeble  body  began  to  fail,  and  he  appeared  to  be 
superannuated  a  few  years  before  he  went  to  the 
E'atchez   country.     It  is   reported  that,  when   he 

*The  salary,  at  that  time,  of  a  traveling  preacher. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  177 

found  his  difficulties,  after  traveling  six  hundred 
miles  to  Cumberland,  he  took  a  canoe,  and  put  his 
saddle  and  equipage  on  board,  and  paddled  himself 
out  of  Cumberkind  into  the  Ohio  River,  and  took 
his  passage  six  or  eight  hundred  miles  in  the 
meanders  of  the  Great  River.*  What  he  met  with 
on  his  passage  is  not  known — whether  he  went  in 
his  own  vessel,  or  was  taken  up  by  some  other 
boat — but  he  arrived  safe  at  port.  Afterward  it 
was  reported  to  the  Conference  that  he  said  he  was 
taken  up  by  a  boat.  Four  times  he  passed  through 
the  wilderness — a  journey  of  six  hundred  miles — 
amidst  Indian  nations  and  guides,  in  his  land  pas- 
sages from  the  Cumberland  settlement  to  Natchez. 
He  continued  upon  his  station  until  he  had  relief 
from  the  "Western  Conference,  where  he  came  and 
solicited  help  in  his  own  person,  and  in  the  habit 
of  a  very  sick  man."t 

The  labors  of  Mr.  Gibson  as  missionary  to  Natchez 
could  not  have  been  other  than  profitable  to  the 
cause  of  Christianity.  Although  the  Minutes  do 
not  show  large  accessions  to  the  Church  during  the 
four  years  he  traversed  the  country  around  ]N'atchez 
and  preached  to  the  people,  yet  he  was  laying  the 
foundations  of  Christianity  there,  and  preparing 
the  ground  that  has  since  brought  an  abundant  har- 
vest. At  the  close  of  the  Conference-year  in  which 
he  died,  there  are  reported  on  the  General  Minutes 
one  hundred  white  and  two  colored  members. 

His  last  sermon  was  preached  on  the  1st  day  of 

*The  Mississippi. 

t General  Minutes,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  125,  126. 


178  METHODISM 

January,  1804.  It  was  blessed  to  many  of  his 
hearers.  ITot  only  through  his  life,  but  in  his  last 
illness,  "  he  was  a  pattern  of  patience,  humility,  and 
devotion,"  and  hailed  with  joy  the  hour  of  death. 
lie  met  the  last  enemy,  not  like  the  warrior  on  the 
blood-stained  field,  amid  the  excitement  and  enthu- 
siasm of  the  battle,  but  with  the  resignation  of  the 
Christian,  in  the  calmness  of  a  trusting  faith,  re- 
posing his  hope  of  eternal  life  on  the  "  exceeding 
great  and  precious  promises  "  of  the  word  of  God ; 
and  in  the  contemplation  of  his  priceless  inher- 
itance, he  passed  aw^ay. 

The  following  letter  to  the  author,  from  the  Eev. 
Dr.  C.  K.  Marshall,  dated  Yicksburg,  February  10, 
1868,  in  reference  to  Mr.  Gibson,  will  be  read  with 
interest : 

""While  in  feeble  health,  he  remained  with  his 
relatives,  and  rode  out  and  visited  his  friends  and 
brethren,  and  went  out  occasionally  to  the  nearest 
appointments  of  his  brethren  in  the  ministry.  But 
as  his  health  gradually  failed,  he  declined  giving 
out  appointments  to  preach  himself,  though  he 
could  occasionally  exhort  after  the  delivery  of  the 
discourses  of  the  regular  pastors. 

"  One  day,  when  he  was  out  in  the  plantation  of 
his  kinsman,  endeavoring  to  give  a  little  assistance 
in  the  supervision  of  the  place,  he  was  caught  in  a 
very  trying  and  perilous  situation.  A  cane-brake 
had  been  set  on  fire,  to  clear  the  land  for  the  pur- 
pose of  planting.  The  fire  had  been  set  at  several 
different  points ;  and,  while  attending  to  other  mat- 
ters, and  before  any  one  was  aware  of  tlie  state  of 


IN     KENTUCKY.  179 

tilings,  the  negroes  discovered  that  the  fire  had  so 
encircled  them  that  escape  seemed  impossible.  A 
path  leading  over  a  bridge  which  was  built  across  a 
bayou  was  the  only  w^ay  out,  and  the  fire  had 
reached  that.  They  hurried  at  once  into  the  bed 
of  the  bayou,  now  almost  entirely  dry,  and  lay 
down.  The  heat  was,  however,  so  intense  as  to 
nearly  sufibcate  them,  and  nearly  killed  Mr.  Gibson 
on  the  spot.  After  the  fire  had  passed  over  them, 
the  persons  present  helped  to  get  Mr.  Gibson  back 
to  the  residence;  but  he  had  received  a  shock  to 
his  weak  lungs  and  general  system,  which  pushed 
him  with  accelerated  movement  toward  the  grave. 
But  for  this  sad  occurrence,  his  useful  life  might 
have  been  extended  to  many  years. 

"  His  remains  were  buried  about  ^ve  miles  south 
of  Yicksburg.  In  1856,  or  about  that  time,  his  rel- 
atives and  numerous  friends  united  together  and 
erected  a  handsome  monument  over  his  remains. 
The  writer  delivered  an  appropriate  address  on  the 
occasion,  and  solemn  religious  services  were  con- 
ducted by  assisting  ministers.  The  grave  where 
his  remains  repose  is  not  far  from,  and  in  sight  of, 
the  public  road,  and  is  one  of  the  loveliest  and 
loneliest  spots  anywhere  in  the  country." 

Another  honored  name,  though  not  in  the  Gen- 
eral Minutes  for  Kentucky,  properly  belongs  to  this 
part  of  our  history — that  of  Moses  Speer.*  lie 
was  born  in  Maryland,  in  1766,  and  removed  with 

*He  was  the  father  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Speer,  of  the  Louisville  Con- 
ference, and  of  the  Rev.  James  G.  H.  Speer,  a  member  of  the  Hol- 
ston  Conference,  who  died  many  years  ago. 


180  METHODISM 

his  father  to  Kentucky  when  quite  a  youth, 
and  settled  at  the  mouth  of  Beargrass,  where 
Louisville  now  stands.  Early  in  life  he  embraced 
religion,  and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church ;  and  soon  afterward  he  entered  the  min- 
istry. Under  the  direction  of  the  Presiding  Elder, 
he  labored  for  some  time  on  the  Hinkstone  Circuit, 
in  Kentucky,  evincing  by  his  zeal  and  devotion  his 
Divine  call  to  the  ministry.  In  1794,  he  joined  the 
Conference,  and,  with  Jacob  Lurton,  was  appointed 
to  the  Cumberland  Circuit,  where  his  labors  were 
signally  blessed.  During  this  year  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Amelia  Ewing,  of  Nashville ;  and,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  the  sup- 
port of  married  preachers,  at  the  close  of  the  year 
he  located.  He  settled  near  the  city  of  Nashville, 
and  for  more  than  forty  years  he  was  in  that  vicin- 
ity, a  faithful  and  useful  local  preacher.  In  1839, 
his  name  appears  in  the  Minutes  of  the  Mississippi 
Conference,  and  his  appointment  to  Montgomery, 
in  the  San  Augustin  District,  Texas.*  Mr.  Speer 
had  not  the  privilege  of  aiding,  for  any  length  of 
time,  in  the  cultivation  of  this  new  and  interesting 
field.  His  work  was  well-nigh  done.  Before  an- 
other Conference  met,  he  was  called  from  labor  to 
reward.  In  the  seventy-fourth  year  of  his  age, 
full  of  faith  and  of  hope,  he  closed  his  eventful  and 
useful  life. 

Mr.  Speer  was  the  first  minister  of  the  Methodist 
Church  who  bore  the  standard  of  the  cross  beyond 

'^Tho  missionary  work  in  Texas  was  at  that  time  connected  with 
the  Mississippi  Conference. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  181 

the  Ohio,  into  what  is  now  the  State  of  Indiana.* 
In  his  early  ministry,  he  was  the  intimate  friend  of 
Haw,  Ogden,  McHenry,  and  Burke.  He  was  among 
the  first  who  were  licensed  to  preach  west  of  the 
mountains.  He  was  also  one  of  the  brave  band 
that  was  sent  to  meet  Bishop  Asbury  near  the 
Cumberland  Gap,  and  guard  him  through  the  wil- 
derness into  the  settled  portions  of  Kentucky.  He 
contributed  by  his  labors  much  toward  the  planting 
of  Methodism  in  Logan  county,  Kentucky ;  and  he 
labored  with  the  McGees  in  the  great  revivals  at  the 
close  of  the  past  and  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century. 

We  have  this  year  an  increase  of  only  thirty-five 
members. 

The  "  Conference  for  1795  was  held  at  Masterson's 
Chapel,  on  the  1st  day  of  May.     Bishop  Asbury 


*  Col.  N.  A.  Speer,  his  son,  writes,  that  in  1827,  he  found  many  of 
the  old  settlers  in  Jefferson,  Bullitt,  Nelson,  Shelby,  and  other  counties, 
who  remembered  the  preaching  and  labors  of  Moses  Speer  ;  and  who 
had  known  him  from  the  time  of  his  landing  at  the  Falls,  in  1780, 
until  he  was  sent  to  the  Cumberland,  in  1791.  He  farther  states 
that,  in  1838,  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  an  aged  gentleman  at 
Evansville,  named  Eobertson.  Mr.  Kobertson  informed  him  that 
Moses  Speer  was  the  first  Protestant  minister  who  preached  west  of 
the  Ohio,  Mr.  Robertson  stated  that  he  and  others  had  gone  west 
of  the  Ohio  Eiver  on  a  hunting  tour,  and,  finding  the  game  very 
abundant,  they  concluded  to  build  a  block-house  and  remain,  and 
send  for  their  families ;  which  they  did.  They  established  them- 
selves on  a  stream,  afterward  called  Silver  Creek.  Soon  after  they 
had  established  themselves,  one  of  their  number  visited  the  Falls, 
and  requested  Moses  Speer  to  visit  the  settlers  at  Silver  Creek  Sta- 
tion, and  preach  to  them.  He  consented,  visited  the  station,  and 
preached  to  them.  ^ 


182  METHODISM 

was  not  present.  The  Rev.  Francis  Pojthress  pre- 
sided over  the  deliberations  of  the  body.  The 
Revs.  John  Buxton,  Aquila  Sugg,  Francis  Acuff, 
and  Thomas  Wilkerson  had  been  transferred  to 
Kentucky  by  Bishop  Asbury,  and  reported  them- 
selves to  the  Conference,  and  were  courteously  re- 
ceived." *  The  name  of  William  Duzan  also  appears 
for  the  first  time.  The  '^  proceedings  of  the  Con- 
ference were  concluded  harmoniously.  The  preach- 
ers were  warmly  united  in  the  bonds  of  peace,  and 
each  started  to  his  circuit  with  renewed  zeal  and 
fixedness  of  purpose,  to  discharge  with  greater 
fidelity  the  trust  and  confidence  reposed  in  them  by 
the  great  Head  of  the  Church."  f 

William  Duzau,  who  was  admitted  on  trial  at 
this  Conference,  was  a  resident  of  Washington 
county  when  he  entered  the  ministry,  and  was,  in 
all  probability,  one  of  the  subjects  of  the  revival  of 
1790,  with  which  that  county  was  visited.  His  first 
appointment  was  to  the  Salt  River  Circuit,  with 
John  Buxton  and  Barnabas  McHenry.  "He  was 
a  young  man  of  unblemished  reputation,  pious, 
humble,  deeply  devoted  to  God,  and  greatly  es- 
teemed by  all  his  acquaintances  on  account  of  his 
excellent  qualities.  He  was  small  in  stature,  and 
of  humble  pretensions  in  the  ministry."  { 

He  spent  only  one  year  in  Kentucky,  and  at  the 
subsequent  Conference  was  appointed  to  Cumber- 
land ;  and  in  1797,  to  the  Holston  Circuit ;  at  the 
close  of  which  he  located. 

*  Judge  Scott.  -fibid.  tibid. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  183 

John  Buxton  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1791,  and 
appointed  to  Bertie  Circuit,  in  I^ortli  Carolina. 
The  three  following  years  he  traveled  in  Virginia. 
In  1795,  he  was  transferred  to  the  "West,  and  ap- 
pointed to  Salt  River  Circuit.  He  remained  in 
Kentuck}^  only  one  year,  when  he  was  removed  to 
the  Cumberland.  The  following  year  he  traveled 
on  Green  Circuit,  in  East  Tennessee.  In  1798,  he 
returned  to  Kentucky,  where  he  spent  two  years — 
the  first  on  the  Lexington,  and  the  second  on  the 
Limestone  Circuit.  In  the  year  1800,  he  returned 
to  the  Virginia  Conference,  and,  after  traveling 
successively  the  Sussex,  Mecklenburg,  and  Green- 
ville, the  Portsmouth  and  Brunswick  Circuits,  he 
was  sent  to  the  Richmond  District  as  Presidins:  El- 
der.  The  remainder  of  his  itinerant  life  was  spent 
on  Districts.  In  1805,  we  find  him  on  the  IlTorfolk 
District.  At  the  close  of  this  year  he  leaves  Vir- 
ginia, and  is  appointed  to  the  Salisbury  District, 
North  Carolina.  The  subsequent  year  he  has 
charge  of  the  l^ewbern  District,  i^orth  Carolina, 
where  he  remains  for  two  years,  when  he  is 
reappointed  to  Norfolk  District,  in  Virginia.  The 
three  following  years  he  has  charge  of  Raleigh 
District;  and  in  1813,  of  the  Tar  River  District- 
both  in  North  CaroHna;  at  the  close  of  which  he 
located.* 

From  the  sketch  we  have  given,  it  will  be  per- 
ceived that  the  life  of  Mr.  Buxton  was  by  no  means 


*A11  the  appointments  he  fillocl  from  1809  wore  in  the  Virginia 
Conference,  which  extended  into  North  Carolina. 


184  METHODISM 

an  idle  one.  In  that  early  day  the  territorial  limits 
of  the  circuits  were  generally  more  extensive  than 
the  Districts  of  a  Presiding  Elder  at  the  present 
period,  while  the  Districts  of  that  time  more  than 
covered  the  boundary  lines  of  our  present  Con- 
ferences. 

In  appearance,  Mr.  Buxton  was  tall  and  slender. 
His  piety  was  fervent,  and  he  was  zealous  and  ef- 
fective in  his  ministerial  labors.  His  preaching 
was  plain,  sound,  and  both  theoretical  and  practical. 
In  his  intercourse  w^ith  others,  he  not  only  lacked 
those  social  qualities  that  so  greatly  endear  a  minis- 
ter to  his  people,  but  was  regarded  as  rather  mo- 
rose. During  his  connection  with  the  Church  in 
Kentucky,  his  ministry  was  greatly  blessed.  In  the 
year  in  which  he  traveled  on  the  Lexington  Cir- 
cuit there  was  a  gracious  revival  of  religion,  and 
many  persons  were  converted  and  added  to  the 
Church.  The  high  estimation  in  which  he  was 
held  by  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  is  evinced  by 
the  very  responsible  positions  confided  to  his  trust. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Conferences  of 
1804,  1808,  and  1812. 

We  have  already  referred  to  Aquila  Sugg,  as 
transferred  to  Kentucky.  In  1788,  he  was  admitted 
on  trial,  and  appointed  to  Gloucester,  in  Virginia. 
The  two  following  years  he  traveled  on  the  Great 
Pedee  and  Edisto  Circuits,  in  South  Carolina.  In 
1791,  he  was  appointed  to  the  Canterbury  Circuit; 
in  1792,  to  Salisbury ;  in  1793,  to  l^ew  Hope ;  in 
1794,  to  Trent— all  in  North  Carolina.  In  1795,  he 
came  to  Kentucky,  and  was  appointed  the  first  year 


IN     KENTUCKY.  185 

to  Lexington,  and  the  following  year  to  the  Logan 
Circuit ;  and  located  at  the  Conference  of  1797. 

A  writer  in  the  Christian  Advocate*  says:  "He 
was  an  excellent  man,  and  his  labors  were  blessed." 

Judge  Scott,  in  describing  him,  informs  us  that 
"he  was  about  the  medium  size;  of  a  feeble  con- 
stitution ;  plain  and  neat  in  his  dress ;  courteous 
in  his  manners,  and  instructive  in  his  conversation 
with  others."  We  also  learn  from  the  same  author- 
ity, that  "he  was  an  easy,  natural,  and  graceful 
preacher,  and  seldom  failed  to  command  the  undi- 
vided attention  of  his  hearers." 

On  neither  of  the  circuits  to  which  he  was  ap- 
pointed in  Kentucky,  was  he  able  to  render  efiicient 
service.  At  the  close  of  the  first  three  months  of 
his  ministerial  labor  on  the  Lexington  Circuit,  his 
health  entirely  failed  him,  and  he  returned  to  the 
home  of  his  parents.  His  place  was  filled  by  Mr. 
Scott,  to  whom  we  have  already  referred.  Un- 
willing to  be  idle,  he  attempted  to  rally;  and, 
believing  his  health  equal  to  the  duties  of  an  itin- 
erant, he  was  appointed  to  the  Logan  Circuit, 
which  had  just  been  formed  under  that  name.  Al- 
most until  the  close  of  the  year,  he  faithfully  prose- 
cuted his  work,  until  the  encroachments  of  disease 
too  plainly  indicated  that  his  itinerant  career  must 
close.  Broken  down  in  health,  he  retires  from  the 
active  duties  of  a  work  dearer  to  his  heart  than  life 
itself.t 

*John  Carr,  in  Christian  Advocate,  February  12,  1857. 
f  Judge  Scott. 


186  M  E  T  H  0  D  I  S  M 

Francis  AcufF  had  only  labored  in  Kentucky  for 
fi  short  time  previous  to  his  death.  He  was  born 
in  Culpepper  county,  Virginia,  but  brought  up  in 
Sullivan  county,  Tennessee.  In  1793,  he  entered  the 
itinerant  field,  and  was  appointed  to  the  Greenbrier 
Circuit,  in  Virginia.  The  following  year,  his  ap- 
pointment was  to  the  Holston  ;  and  in  1795,  he 
became  identified  with  the  w^ork  in  Kentucky,  and 
was  appointed  to  the  Danville  Circuit.  In  the 
enjoyment  of  excellent  health,  and  blessed  with  a 
fine  constitution,  he  entered  upon  his  work  with 
energy  and  zeal.  Possessing  a  mind  above  medi- 
ocrity, and  deeply  devoted  to  the  service  of  the 
Church,  he  soon  won  the  esteem  and  the  affections 
of  his  brethren.  He,  however,  was  not  permitted 
to  "  occupy  "  his  place  in  the  Danville  Circuit  only 
for  a  short  time.  Before  the  summer  passed  away, 
he  entered  upon  the  peaceful  calm  of  heaven.  "  He 
died  in  August,  1795,  in  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  his 
age.  Thus  dropped  the  morning  flower — though 
flourishing  in  the  morning,  in  the  evening  cut 
down  and  withered.  He  was  soon  called  away 
from  his  labors  in  the  vineyard  to  the  rest  that 
remaineth  to  the  people  of  God."* 

Bishop  Asbury,  in  speaking  of  his  death,  says : 
"  We  came  to  Acufif's  Chapel.  I  found  the  family 
sorrowful  and  weeping  on  account  of  the  death  of 
Francis  AcuflV't 

*'As  an  instance  of  the  strong  attachment  which 

*  General  Minutes  M.  E.  Church,  Vol.  I.,  p.  67. 
t  Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  II.,  p.  297. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  187 

was  felt  by  those  who  were  best  acquainted  with 
this  man  of  God,  I  will  give  the  following  anec- 
dote, on  the  authority  of  the  author  of  '  Short 
Sketches  of  Revivals  of  Religion  in  the  Western 
Country ' :  'An  Englishman  by  the  name  of  Wil- 
liam Jones,  on  his  arrival  in  Virginia,  was  sold  for 
his  passage.  He  served  his  time,  four  years,  with 
fidelity,  conducted  himself  with  propriety,  and  was 
finally  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  by 
means  of  Methodist  preaching.  As  he  had  been 
greatly  blessed  under  the  preaching  of  Mr.  AcufF, 
when  he  heard  of  his  death,  Billy,  as  he  was  called, 
determined  to  visit  his  o^rave.  Thouo'h  he  had  to 
travel  a  long  distance  through  the  wilderness,  in 
which  he  had  heard  that  the  Indians  often  killed 
people  by  the  way,  yet  his  great  desire  to  visit  the 
grave  of  his  friend  and  pastor  impelled  him  for- 
ward, believing  that  the  Lord  in  whom  he  trusted 
was  able  to  protect  him  from  savage  cruelty,  and 
provide  for  his  wants.  When  I  came  to  the  rivers, 
said  he,  I  would  wade  them  ;  or,  if  there  were  fer- 
ries, they  would  take  me  across ;  and  when  I  was 
hungry,  the  travelers  would  give  me  a  morsel  of 
bread.  When  I  came  to  Mr.  Green's,  in  Madison 
county,  I  inquired  for  our  dear  Mr.  Acuflf's  grave. 
The  people  looked  astonished,  but  directed  me  to 
:  it.  I  went  to  it ;  felt  my  soul  happy ;  shouted  over 
it,  and  praised  the  Lord.'  Such  a  mark  of  strong 
affection  in  a  single  follower  of  Jesus  Christ  speaks 
volumes  in  favor  of  the  man  over  whose  grave  those 
grateful  recollections  were  so  piously  indulged."* 

^-Bangs's  History  M.  E.  Church,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  40,  41. 


188  METHODISM 

Another  name  that  stands  out  with  remarkable 
prominence  is  introduced  this  year  into  the  annals 
of  Methodism  in  Kentucky — that  of  Thomas  Wil- 
kerson.  Mr.  "Wilkerson  was  born  in  Amelia  county, 
Virginia,  April  27,  1772.  He  had  not  the  advan- 
tages of  earl}^  religious  training,  as  his  parents  were 
both  unconverted.  When  about  thirteen  years  of 
age,  under  the  preaching  of  Methodist  ministers, 
he  was  awakened  to  a  sense  of  his  condition  as  a 
sinner ;  but,  by  improper  associations,  his  good  im- 
pressions were  eflaced.  Though  only  a  child,  he 
endeavored  to  drink  in  the  poison  of  infidelity, 
but  in  its  teachings  found  no  relief.  When  about 
eighteen  years  of  age,  the  neighborhood  in  which 
he  was  residing  was  blessed  with  a  gracious  revival 
of  religion.  Amongst  the  subjects  of  conversion 
were  several  of  his  associates.  A  determination  on 
his  part  to  dissuade  them  from  a  religious  life, 
opened  afresh  the  springs  of  conviction  in  his  own 
heart,  and  decided  him  in  a  renewed  purpose  to 
seek  religion.  On  the  following  Sabbath  he  joined 
the  Church ;  and  on  the  subsequent  Saturday  even- 
ing, about  dusk,  in  the  lone  woods,  and  in  a  state 
of  almost  despair,  he  says :  "As  I  was  making  my 
w^ay  through  the  bushes,  I  thought  I  saw  a  flash  of 
lightning.  Almost  instantly  it  was  repeated.  I 
recollect  nothing  more  till  I  found  m3'self  on  m\' 
feet,  with  my  hands  raised,  while  loud  shouts 
seemed  to  burst  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart."  * 

^Thomas  Wilkerson,  in  r.  letter  in  South-western  Christian  Advo. 
cate,  of  June  26,  1841. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  189 

He  soon  filled  the  offices  of  class-leader  and  ex- 
torter, ill  which  positions  his  "  efforts  were  crowned 
with  success."  Feeling  a  "necessity"  laid  upon 
him  to  preach  the  gospel,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
his  want  of  qualification  and  "insufficiency"  for 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  he  shrank  from  the  re- 
sponsible office,  until  worldly  misfortunes  and  theX 
w^ant  of  success  in  secular  pursuits,  together  with 
the  persuasions  of  friends  and  the  reproaches  of 
conscience,  fully  aroused  him.  Under  the  pasto- 
ral care  of  John  Metcalf,  then  traveling  the  cir- 
cuit in  Virginia  in  which  he  resided,  he  w^as  kept  in 
the  exercise  of  "gifts  and  graces,"  and  finally  per- 
suaded to  attend  the  session  of  the  Virginia  Con- 
ference held  in  Manchester,  November  25,  1792. 
From  this  Conference  "  he  was  sent  out  to  bear  the 
fatigues  and  dangers  of  a  pioneer  itinerant  life." 
His  first  appointment  w^as  to  the  Franklin  Circuit, 
and  the  second  to  the  Greenville — both  in  the  State 
of  Virginia.  On  the  latter  circuit  he  traveled  only 
six  months,  when  the  demands  of  the  Church  else- 
where called  for  his  services,  and  he  was  removed 
to  Bertie  Circuit,  in  North  Carolina,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  the  year.  In  all  these  fields  of 
labor,  though  in  feeble  health,  he  w^as  greatly  en- 
couraged by  the  success  that  crowned  his  ministry — 
there  being  everywhere  "  living  epistles  known  and 
read  of  all  men."  At  the  following  Conference, 
held  at  Mayberry's  Chapel,  Virginia,  a  call  w^as 
made  for  volunteers  for  Kentucky  ;  and,  with  Bux- 
ton and  others,  Mr.  Wilkerson  offered  himself  for 
this  arduous  work,  on  which  he  was  to  enter  in  the 


190  METHODISM 

following  spring.  During  the  winter  he  traveled 
with  Mr.  McKenclree  on  the  Bedford  Circuit,  in 
Virginia.  His  first  appointment  in  Kentucky  w^as 
to  the  Hinkstone  Circuit.  The  country  through 
which  he  had  to  pass,  to  reach  his  new  field  of 
labor,  w^as  sparsely  settled,  and  the  journey  haz- 
ardous. He  says  :  "We  had  to  pack  our  provisions 
for  man  and  horse  for  nearly  two  hundred  miles ; 
lie  on  the  ground  at  night,  having  a  guard  stationed 
around  us."*  Feeble  in  health  when  he  left  Vir- 
ginia, he  steadily  improved,  so  that  he  was  able  to 
undergo  the  hardships  that  awaited  him.  All  along 
his  journej''  he  "preached  to  the  people,  in  their 
forts  and  block-houses,"  the  unsearchable  riches  of 
Christ.  On  his  way,  he  says  :  "  I  met  no  D.D.'s  to 
discuss  doctrines,  or  make  out  reports  about  moral 
wastes.  We  had  nothing  from  without  to  contend 
with,  but  the  Indians  and  wild  beasts."  f  His  sec- 
ond appointment  in  Kentucky  was  on  the  Lexing- 
ton Circuit.  He  was  sent  the  next  year  to  the 
Cumberland.  After  having  traveled  these  several 
circuits,  "with  various  success,"  he  was  sent,  in 
1798,  to  the  Holston  Circuit,  with  Tobias  Gibson, 
whose  health  soon  failed,  when  the  duties  of  that 
laborious  charge  devolved  on  him  alone.  In  the 
spring  of  1799,  he  rejoined  the  Virginia  Conference, 
and  was  sent  to  the  Yadkin  Circuit,  in  North  Caro- 
lina, which,  at  that  time,  embraced  that  range 
of  high  mountains  running  through  Buncombe 
county.     Here  he  could  "  see  but  little  fruit  of  his 

*  Nashville  Christian  Advocate,  July  31,  1841.  flbid. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  191 

labor."  The  following  year,  he  traveled  on  the 
Baltimore  Circuit,  where  he  participated  in  "  the 
most  pleasing  revival  he  ever  witnessed."  It  com- 
menced under  the  preaching  of  Wilson  Lee,  and  in 
it  were  converted  some  persons  who  afterward 
"became  distinguished  in  the  Church."  Again, 
at  the  Conference  held  in  Kentucky,  in  the  fall  of 
1800,*  w^e  lind  him  on  the  Lexington  the  Hinkstone 
Circuit,  in  Kentucky,  as  colleague  to  "William 
Burke.  A  gracious  revival  of  religion  crowned 
their  labors.  It  was  during  this  year,  and  on  this 
circuit,  that  the  whole  power  of  Baptist  engineering 
was  arrested  by  Mr.  Burke,  "who  met  them  so 
promptly,  and  so  fully  rebutted  their  arguments," 
that  their  attacks  fell  harmless  to  the  ground. 

In  the  Conference  of  1801,  he  attempted  to  return 
to  Baltimore,  but  was  met  by  Bishop  Asbury  at  the 
Holston  Conference,  and  was  solicited  to  return  to 
Cumberland,  where  he  remained  for  two  years — the 
circuit,  the  latter  year,  taking,  for  the  first  time,  the 
name  of  "IN'ashville." 

His  return  to  Kentucky  in  1800,  and  his  appoint- 
ments for  the  several  following  years,  threw  him  in 
the  midst  of  the  great  revival  which  was  then  per- 

*The  General  Minutes  make  his  return  to  Kentucky,  and  his 
appointment  to  Hinkstone  and  Lexington,  in  1801 ;  but  this  error 
results  from  the  change  made,  in  1800,  in  the  time  of  holding  the 
Western  Conference,  from,  the  spring  to  the  fall ;  so  that  two  Confer- 
ences were  held  in  the  West  in  1800 — the  first  in  April,  at  Dun- 
worth,  on  Holston  ;  and  the  second  at  Bethel  Academy,  in  Kentucky, 
in  October.  The  Conference,  however,  held  in  October,  1800,  is  pub- 
lished in  the  General  Minutes  as  the  Conference  of  1801.  This  error 
runs  through  the  Minutes  for  several  years. 


192  METHODISM 

meatiiig  Middle  Tennessee  and  the  State  of  Ken- 
tuck}^,  and  in  which  he  bore  a  prominent  part. 
The  labors  he  performed,  the  privations  he  met,  and 
the  exposures  he  underwent,  were  too  much  for  his 
constitution,  previously  impaired.  From  a  pro- 
tracted illness,  during  which  his  life  was  despaired 
of,  he  recovered  slowly,  and  met  the  Conference  at 
the  session  of  1803.  Still  feeble  in  health,  when 
Bishop  Asbury  met  him,  he  said  :  "  You  look  very 
slim;"  and  kindly  oifcred  him  any  appointment  he 
might  choose.  Acting  upon  the  proper  principle, 
that  the  preacher  who  chooses  his  own  field  of  min- 
isterial labor,  chooses,  at  the  same  time,  any  diffi- 
culties that  may  ensue,  he  promptly  declined  the 
proffered  kindness.  The  Church  in  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  had  petitioned  the  Bishop  to  separate 
them  from  the  circuit;  and  Mr.  Wilkerson  was 
appointed  to  the  station — the  first  formed  in  Ken- 
tucky.* 

During  this  year,  at  Lexington,  his  constitu- 
tion again  gave  way,  and  he  was  able  to  preach 
but  little.  He  says:  "It  was  a  year  of  affliction  to 
my  body  and  mind."  He  said  he  could  see  but 
little  fruit  as  the  result  of  his  toil.  Li  the  midst  of 
severe  illness,  when  all  hope  of  his  recovery  was 
abandoned,  and  his  physician  gave  him  the  opinion 
that  he  could  only  survive  a  few  days,  he  writes  : 
"  The  language  of  my  heart  was,  '  Though  He  slay 
me,  I  will  trust  in  Him.'     Death  has  no  stinsr  to 


*Thc  General  Minutes  read:   "Lexington  Town — Thomas  Wil- 
kerson." 


IN    KENTUCKY.  193 

me.  Thank  the  Lord  for  the  buoyancy  of  a  gospel 
hope!" 

At  the  next  Conference  he  was  permitted  to  rest. 
His  untiring  spirit,  however,  could  enjoy  this  priv- 
ilege but  a  short  time.  His  health  having  slightly 
improved,  he  reported  himself  to  the  Eev.  William 
McKendree,  the  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Kentucky 
District,  as  being  able  for  efficient  service,  and  was 
appointed  to  the  Lexington  Circuit  until  the  next 
Conference. 

In  1805  and  1806,  he  had  charge  of  the  Holston 
District,  then  covering  a  vast  extent  of  country 
in  East  Tennessee,  Western  Virginia,  and  North 
Carolina.  In  traveling  over  this  field — not  only 
attending  his  quarterl}^  meetings,  but  traveling 
through  every  circuit,  and  preaching  constantly — we 
behold  in  him  a  true  evangelist,  "as  he  passes  up  and 
down,  through  gorges  and  defiles,  over  mountains 
and  rivers,  through  a  dreary  wilderness — with 
scanty  fare  and  threadbare  clothes — with  ruined 
health — that  he  might  seek  and  gently  lead  into  the 
fold  of  Christ  the  erring  sons  of  men." 

But  now,  again  prostrated  in  health,  he  feels 
forced  to  retire  from  active  participation  in  a  work 
to  which  he  had  devoted  the  morning  of  his  life 
and  the  prime  of  his  manhood.  He  asked  and  ob- 
tained a  location. 

In  1828,  his  name  reappears  in  the  Minutes,  as 
the  Presiding  Elder  on  the  French  Broad  District, 
Holston  Conference.  A  single  year  is  sufficient  to 
impress  his  mind  with  the  conviction  that  his  itin- 
erant labors  must  cease.  From  that  period  until 
VOL.  i.-~7 


194  METHODISM 

his  eventful  life  was  closed,  he  sustained  to  the  Con- 
ference either  a  supernumerary  or  superannuated 
relation. 

As  we  review  the  life  of  such  a  man,  we  pause  to 
express  an  admiration,  not  only  for  his  character, 
but  for  the  moral  achievements  of  Christianity 
effected  through  his  instrumentality,  as  well  as  for 
the  heroism  he  so  often  displayed  in  the  accom- 
plishment of  his  work.  Did  dangers  daunt  him? 
Surely  not. 

"  On  one  occasion,  a  hundred  miles  of  unbroken 
forest  lay  between  him  and  his  work.  He  was  de- 
tained, and  his  company  had  left  him.  Friendly 
settlers  on  the  border  of  this  mighty  sea  of  woods 
described  its  perils,  and  attempted  to  dissuade  him 
from  his  purpose  to  pass  through  it  all  alone. 
Tales  of  murder,  of  the  savage's  tomahawk  and 
scalping-knife,  which  had  been  dripping  with  blood 
but  a  short  time  before  in  the  depths  of  the  very 
forest  through  which  he  had  to  pass,  w^ere  rehearsed 
again  and  again  to  deter  him.  Duty  called  him  to 
go,  and  he  heeded  not  the  dissuasions  of  his  friends. 
Into  the  lonesome,  solemn  forest  he  plunged.  He 
rode  on  and  on,  musing  upon  the  loneliness  of  man 
isolated  from  humanity,  and  the  still  greater  loneli- 
ness of  him  who  is  isolated  from  his  God.  ISTight 
came ;  he  lay  down  and  slept,  and  awoke  to  find 
'his  kind  Preserver  near.'  As  he  pursued  his 
lonely  wa}^  a  chilling  consciousness  of  his  solitary, 
helpless  condition,  seized  him.  He  apprehended 
danger  near.  Old  tales  of  blood  and  savage  torture 
recurred  to  his  mind.    He  started  at  every  rustic  of 


IN    KENTUCKY.  195 

a  leaf.  He  looked  beliind,  around,  on  either  side. 
A  moving  object  coming  toward  him  startled  him. 
lie  saw  it  was  a  human  being ;  he  felt  it  to  be  a 
savage.  Turning  as  quietly  as  possible  to  one  side, 
half  concealed  among  the  bushes,  he  awaited  the 
event  with  throbbing  heart.  The  footfalls  sounded 
nearer  and  nearer;  a  swarthy,  fierce-looking  man 
stepped  full  in  view,  and,  startled  himself,  grasped 
convulsively  his  rifle ;  but  soon  relaxed  his  grasp, 
and  joyously  greeted  the  affrighted  preacher.  Wil- 
kerson  found  the  stranger  to  be  a  way-worn,  fam- 
ished soldier,  from  Wayne's  army,  on  his  return 
home.  He  shared  with  him  his  loaf  of  home-made 
sugar,  the  remnant  of  his  scanty  provisions.  After 
checking  their  hunger,  and  passing  a  few  minutes 
in  conversation,  they  knelt  down  and  commended 
themselves  to  God,  and  reluctantly  parted,  each  to 
pursue  his  journey  alone. 

''  On  another  da}^,  as  Wilkerson  was  still  urging 
his  way  to  the  field  of  his  ministerial  labors,  he 
entered  a  dark  ravine,  whose  depths  the  sun  could 
scarcely  penetrate,  so  completely  was  it  walled  in 
by  hills,  and  covered  with  overarching  oaks'.  As 
he  plodded  anxiously  on,  peering  forward  in  hopes 
of  catching  a  glimpse  of  light  in  front,  Avhere  a 
more  open  prospect  would  present  itself,  his  eyes 
fell  on  something  white  that  lay  a  few  rods  beyond 
his  path.  A  nearer  approach  disclosed  a  human 
skull,  and  the  not  uncertain  marks  it  bore  made 
him  sure  that  the  weapon  of  the  savage  had  broken 
the  golden  bowl.  A  little  farther  on,  arched  ribs 
and  another  grinning  death's-head    repeated  the 


196  METHODISM 

terror-breathing  story,  aud  bade  him  tread  softly, 
lest  he  should  wake  the  fate  that  slept  within  this 
dell  of  death. 

"But  amid  these  scenes  the  Comforter  came  and 
ministered  unto  him.  He  was  sustained ;  finding 
food  for  his  own  soul  in  the  bread  of  life  he  broke 
to  others. 

"Although  almost  entirely  uneducated,  Wilker- 
son's  fine  native  intellect,  his  sterling  common 
sense,  gave  him  a  prominence  among  his  brethren 
that  many  more  highly  favored  as  to  educational 
privileges  fail  to  reach.  Prominence,  however,  he 
did  not  seek ;  it  came,  if  at  all,  the  free  gift  of 
those  who  knew  and  appreciated  him.  Indeed,  his 
manner  and  his  dress  were  the  very  reverse  of  those 
ambition  assumes.  lie  was  remarkably  affable  and 
polite ;  but  his  politeness  was  not  the  hypocritical 
teachings  of  a  book  of  etiquette.  It  seemed  to  be 
the  gift  of  nature,  and  was  often  the  subject  of 
remark  among  those  who  knew  him.  It  was  diffi- 
cult to  account  for  the  courtly  smoothness  and 
urbanity  of  the  man,  who  had  been  born  in  humble 
life  and  trained  in  the  wilderness. 

"In  dress  he  was  scrupulously  plain,  always 
wearing  a  gray-mixed  homespun  suit,  cut  according 
to  the  primitive  Methodistic  style.  He  could  never 
be  induced  to  assume  the  clerical  black.  His  reasons 
were  cogent.  He  was  met  one  day  on  the  streets 
of  Nashville  by  a  prim  young  preacher,  sleek  in  his 
raven  broadcloth,  who  accosted  him  with : 

"  ^  Well,  Brother  Wilkerson,  why  do  you  not 
wear  black  ?     It  gives  dignity  to  the  appearance  of 


IN     KENTUCKY.  197 

a  minister,  solemnity  to  his  air,  and  is  so  apt  to 
insure  him  respect,  that  I  think  every  minister 
should  wear  it.' 

"  Wilkerson  replied :  '  I  have  three  reasons,  my 
brother,  why  I  do  not  wear  black. 

" '  First :  we  are  told  that  our  message  is  glad 
tidings,  good  news;  and  such  being  the  case,  it  seems 
to  me  that  for  the  heralds  of  such  a  message  to  go 
clad  in  mourning  is  wholly  inappropriate.  In  the 
second  place :  I  once  read  a  book  entitled  Dialogues 
of  Devils,  and  I  remember  that  Satan  and  Moloch, 
perhaps,  were  represented  as  being  in  conversation 
about  ministers.  Moloch  was  lamenting  their 
power  and  influence,  wielded,  as  it  was,  so  power- 
fully, in  opposition  to  the  hosts  of  Pandemonium. 
Satan  assured  him  he  need  not  take  much  trouble 
to  himself  about  that ;  for,  said  he,  I  have  already 
induced  them  to  put  on  my  sooty  livery,  and  I  shall 
soon  have  them  about  my  work.  In  the  third 
place:  I  w^as  taken  up  by  God  from  the  humbler 
rank  in  life ;  and  if  the  dispensation  of  the  gospel 
committed  to  me  is  to  be  delivered  to  any  particular 
class,  it  is  to  the  poor.  It  is  with  this  class  that  I 
hope  by  my  labors  to  be  useful ;  and  I  wish  by  all 
proper  means  to  commend  m^-'self  to  them.  Hence 
I  dress  so  as  to  make  myself  easy  of  approach  by 
such,  and  wish  by  this  means  to  make  them  feel 
that  I  am  their  equal,  their  brother,  their  friend, 
and  not  their  lord  or  overseer — elevated  so  far 
above  them  as  to  have  no  sympathy  with  them.' 

"Wilkerson  was  an  earnest  student  of  human 
nature ;  and  so  acute  was  his  sense  of  the  good  and 


198  METHODISM 

true,  cultivated  as  it  had  been  by  the  study  of  the 
character  aud  attributes  of  his  Maker,  that  the 
smallest  deviations  from  rectitude  were  readily 
detected  by  him,  and  the  internal  springs  of  human 
action  readily  deduced. 

"  The  peculiar  plainness  of  his  dress,  he  used 
to  remark,  gave  him  opportunity  frequently  for 
detecting  the  petty  foibles  that  dwell  in  the  heart 
of  man. 

"  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference 
of  1828,  which  held  its  sittings  at  Pittsburgh,  Penn- 
sylvania. When  he  came  forward  to  have  his  quar- 
ters assigned  him,  the  committee  looked  at  him, 
then  looked  at  each  other^  seemed  rather  non- 
plussed, and  turned  aside  to  deliberate;  all  of 
which  resulted  in  sending  Wilkerson  away  off 
across  the  river,  perhaps  to  the  village  of  Alle- 
ghany. He  made  no  remonstrance,  but  quietly 
submitted.  In  a  few  days,  through  a  friend,  an 
invitation  was  procured  for  him  to  go  and  dine  at  a 
wealthy  man's  table.  He  went;  and  after  the 
usual  courses  of  the  dinner  had  been  dispatched, 
wine  was  brought  out.  All  the  other  guests  were 
served  first,  when  the  host  turned  to  him : 

"  '  Will  you  have  port,  sir  ? ' 

"  '  IsTo,  I  thank  you,  sir.' 

"  '  Will  you  have  sherry  ? ' 

"^No,  sir.' 

" '  Perhaps,  then,  you  will  take  a  glass  of  small 
.beer?' 
"^    " 'If  you  please,  sir.' 

"*Ah,  yes!'  rudely  responded  the  host,  'that  is 


IN    KENTUCKY.  199 

about  as  liigh  as  we  can  elevate  a  backwoods  Meth- 
odist preacher.' 

"  Wilkerson  felt,  but,  with  characteristic  meek- 
ness, did  not  resent  the  ill  treatment. 

"  The  Committee  on  Public  Worship  waited  upon 
him,  and  informed  him  that  he  was  appointed  to 
preach  at  a  certain  time  and  place.  He  told  them, 
no;  that  he  was  out  of  the  corporation,  beyond 
their  jurisdiction,  and  they  must  get  some  one  else 
to  do  their  preaching.  They  waited  upon  him  a 
second  time,  and  received  the  same  reply.  A  third 
time  they  came,  and  mentioned  his  appointment, 
and  fortified  their  authority  by  telling  him  that 
Bishop  George  said  he  must  preach.  He  told  them 
that  if  the  Bishop  said  so  he  had  no  more  to  say, 
for  he  belonged  to  the  Bishop  and  respected  his 
authority.  The  appointment  assigned  was  in  one 
of  the  most  prominent  churches  of  the  city,  and  it 
was  a  Sabbath-evening  occasion.  A  great  many  of 
the  preachers  were  present,  and  a  great  many  citi- 
zens. The  Holy  Spirit  aided  him  in  a  remarkable 
degree.  He  lashed  the  follies  and  vices  that  he 
daily  saw  exhibited,  both  among  the  preachers  and 
the  laity ;  and,  after  having  fully  secured  the  atten- 
tion of  the  congregation,  he  burst  forth  into  one  of 
those  appeals  of  melting  tenderness  which  his  heart 
was  so  capable  of  uttering,  and  to  which  the  Spirit 
gave  unusual  power,  and  the  whole  audience  was 
melted  into  tears.  Mourners  were  invited  to  the 
altar  of  prayer.  N'umbers  came.  A  time  of  re- 
freshing from  the  presence  of  the  Lord  appeared, 
and  sinners  were  happily  converted.     Wilkerson's 


200  METHODISM 

star  reached  the  ascendant ;  and  now  came  what  he 
disliked  more  than  all  the  ill  treatment  his  home- 
spun had  brought  upon  him. 

"  The  man  who  had  insulted  him  at  his  table  met 
him  on  the  street,  and,  extending  his  hand,  ex- 
claimed, in  a  very  cordial  manner :  *  Why,  how  do 
you  do,  Brother  "Wilkerson?  I  have  just  found 
you  out.  You  must  come  and  make  my  house  your 
home,'  etc.,  etc.  The  preachers,  very  charitably, 
determined  to  make  up  a  purse  and  buy  him  a  suit 
of  clothes.  Several  of  them  were  speaking  of  it  in 
the  presence  of  good  old  Bishop  George,  who  knew 
"Wilkerson  at  home.  A  mischievous  twinkle  played 
in  the  corner  of  the  old  Bishop's  eye  as  he  re- 
marked to  them :  '  "VVhy,  brethren,  if  you  were 
blacked,  he  could  buy  half  of  you.' 

"  But  above  all  the  other  characteristics  of  this 
estimable  old  man,  his  piety  shone  resplendent.  It 
was  a  piety  that  begat  meekness,  gentleness,  tem- 
perance, patience,  long-suffering,  brotherly  kind- 
ness, charity ;  a  piety  that  lived  and  breathed  in  all 
his  words  and  acts ;  a  piety  that  made  him  a  most 
estimable  citizen,  a  kind  neighbor,  a  feeling  and 
tender  master,  a  devoted  husband ;  a  piety  con- 
spicuous in  the  pulpit,  palpable  in  the  social  circle, 
resplendent  around  the  fireside ;  a  piety  that  main- 
tained his  spirits  in  cheerfulness  and  hope  through 
the  vicissitudes  and  reverses  of  a  long  life  of  eighty- 
three  years ;  that  enabled  him  to  bear  with  meek 
resignation  the  loss  of  dear  friends,  and  to  say, 
despite  the  tears  that  bedimmed  his  eyes,  '  The 
Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away :  blessed 


IN     KENTUCKY.  201 

be  the  name  of  the  Lord  ! '  a  piety  that  supported 
him  througli  ten  years  of  disease  in  the  decline  of 
life ;  that  upheld  him  through  more  than  six  months 
of  prostration,  often  suifering  the  most  excruciating 
pain ;  finally,  a  piety  that  sustained  him  in  the 
hour  of  death,  and  bore  him  triumphantly  to  the 
rest  that  remains  to  the  people  of  God."*  On  his 
bed  of  death,  a  few  weeks  before  he  passed  away,  he 
said :  "  This  old  worn-out  frame  I  shall  willingly 
consign  to  the  grave.  The  grave  cannot  hurt  it. 
Storms  may  rage,  the  revolutions  of  earth  may  go 
on,  the  lightnings  of  heaven  may  flash,  and  her 
thunders  resound,  war  with  iron  heel  may  tread  my 
grave  above ;  but  my  body  shall  be  at  rest.  God 
has  use  for  it,  and  he  will  take  care  of  it  till  the 
judgment.  My  soul  is  his.  He  gave  it;  to  him, 
blessed  be  his  name  !  it  will  return."  He  was  fear- 
ful of  grieving  the  Spirit  by  being  too  anxious  to 
depart.  He  said :  "  The  grave  is  a  quiet  resting- 
place ;  death  is  a  pleasant  sleep;"  for  he  was 
weary  of  life's  long  labors.  The  last  connected 
words  he  uttered  were:  "If  I  had  my  time  to 
go  over,  I  would  preach  differently  to  what  I 
have.  I  would  preach  more  about  eternity.  I 
would  strive  to  keep  eternity  always  before  the 
minds  of  my  people.  "What  is  time  but  a  vapor  ? 
Eternity  is  alL"t 

We  close  this  sketch  by  the  introduction  of  a 
letter  from  the  Eev.  W.  G.  E.  Gunny ngham,  of  the 
Holston  Conference : 

*Rev.  George  E.  Naff,  in  Home  Circle,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  335,  336,  337. 
t  General  Minutes  M.  E.  Church,  South,  Vol.  I.,  p.  674. 


202  METHODISM 

"He  died  at  his  residence,  three  miles  east  of 
Abingdon,  Virginia,  Februar}^  3, 1856,  in  the  eighty- 
fourth  year  of  his  age.  His  death  was  peaceful  and 
beautiful,  as  his  life  had  been  pure  and  useful.  His 
sun  went  down  calmly,  in  as  bright  a  sky  as  ever 
faded  into  night.  He  had  for  years  been  standing 
on  the  margin  of  the  river,  waiting  his  time  to  pass 
over.  He  used  to  say,  when  talking  on  the  subject 
of  death :  '  Its  bitterness  has  long  been  past  with 
me.  The  grave  is  but  a  subterraneous  passage  to 
a  better  world.  I  shall  suffer  only  a  momentary 
obscuration,  and  then  rise  with  my  Lord,  to  die  no 
more.'  He  died  in  the  midst  of  his  family,  sur- 
rounded by  S3^mpathizing  and  devoted  friends.  He 
was  buried  in  rear  of  the  Methodist  Church  in 
Abingdon,  where  he  sleejDS  quietly,  in  company 
with  four  fellow-laborers  of  the  Holston  Confer- 
ence. 

"  Father  "Wilkerson  was  a  man  of  well-balanced 
character,  distinguished  for  a  sound  understanding, 
lively  fancy,  tender  sympathies,  and  profound  piety. 
As  a  preacher,  he  was  classed  among  the  best  of 
his  day.  To  a  thorough  acquaintance  with  the 
Scriptures  and  Methodist  theology,  he  added  a  deep 
knowledge  of  human  nature,  especially  in  its  more 
profound  and  subjective  experiences.  Gentle  and 
persuasive  in  manner,  clear  and  logical  in  state- 
ment, his  sermons  were  pleasing  and  instructive, 
and  often  overwhelmingly  convincing.  When  in- 
spired by  his  theme,  he  rose  into  the  higher  regions 
of  pulpit  eloquence.  At  such  times  he  was  one  of 
the  finest  specimens   of   a   gospel    preacher  ever 


IN    KENTUCKY.  203 

heard  in  this  country.  He  lived  and  died  without 
the  suspicion  of  a  taint  upon  his  spotless  char- 
acter." 

"We  regret  to  report,  at  the  close  of  this  year,  a 
decrease  of  07ie  hundred  and  7imeti/-four  members. 
This  decrease  was  general  throughout  the  State, 
embracing  every  circuit,  except  the  Hinkstone,  in 
which  we  had  a  small  increase. 


204  METHODISM 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1796  TO  THE  CONFERENCE 
OF  1797. 

The  Conference  of  1796  held  at  Masterson's  Chapel — Jeremiah  Law- 
son — Aquila  Jones  —  Benjamin  Lakin  —  John  Watson  —  Henry 
Smith — John  Baird — Increase  in  membership — Shelby  Circuit. 

The  Conference  of  1796  was  held  at  Masterson's 
Chapel,  on  the  20th  of  April.  The  Rev.  Francis 
Poythress  again  presided,  Bishop  Asbury  not  being 
present.    The  session  was  harmonious  throughout.* 

Jeremiah  Lawson  joined  the  Conference  this 
year.  He  remained  in  the  Conference  only  three 
years,  during  which  he  traveled  successively  the 
Shelby,  Danville,  and  Lexington  Circuits ;  and  then 
located.  We,  however,  find  him  supplying  the 
place  of  William  Algood — who  failed  to  come  to 
Kentucky — during  the  spring  and  summer  of  1800, 
on  the  Limestone  Circuit,  under  the  appointment  of 
the  Presiding  Elder,  William  Burke.  He  lived  to 
a  good  old  age,  honored  and  beloved  by  all  who 
knew  him,  and  then  died  at  the  residence  of  his 
son,  the  late  Dr.  L.  M.  Lawson,  of  Cincinnati,  who 
stood  for  many  years  at  the  head  of  the  medical 
profession  in  that  city. 

The  names  also  of  Aquila  Jones,  Benjamin  La- 

*  Judge  Scott. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  205 

kin,  John  Watson,  and  Henry  Smith  appear  in  the 
list  of  the  Appointments. 

Aquila  Jones  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1795,  and 
appointed  to  the  Holston  Circuit.  In  1796,  he 
became  connected  with  the  ministry  in  Kentucky, 
and  was  appointed  to  the  Hinkstone  Circuit ;  the* 
following  year,  to  the  Limestone ;  at  the  close  of 
which  he  located. 

The  names  of  Lakin,  "Watson,  and  Smith,  yet  so 
fresh  in  the  memory  of  many  living,  were  familiar 
to  the  Church  as  useful  ministers  of  Christ,  through 
many  successive  years. 

Benjamin  Lakin,  bearing  the  full  name  of  his 
father,  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Maryland, 
August  23,  1767.  The  family  from  which  he 
descended  were  originally  from  England.  Left  an 
orphan  at  nine  years  of  age,  by  the  death  of  his 
father,  his  moral  and  religious  training  was  con- 
fided to  the  care  of  his  only  surviving  parent. 
Soon  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Lakin 
removed  with  her  family  to  Pennsylvania,  and  set- 
tled near  the  Bedstone  Fort,  in  a  region  of  country 
greatly  infested  by  the  Indians.  About  the  year 
1793,  she  emigrated  with  her  family  to  Kentucky, 
and  settled  on  Bracken  Creek,  within  or  near  the 
limits  of  Mason  county. 

Under  the  preaching  of  the  Kev.  Richard  What- 
coat,  in  1791,  and  before  the  removal  of  the  family 
to  the  West,  during  a  season  of  religious  interest, 
Mr.  Lakin  w^as  awakened  and  converted  to  God.* 

*Sprague's  Annals  of  American  Methodist  Pulpit,  p.  268. 


206  METHODISM 

Feeling  divinely  called  to  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
he  became  an  itinerant  preacher  on  the  Hinkstone 
Circuit  in  1794,  under  the  direction  of  Francis 
Poythress,  the  Presiding  Elder.  In  1795,  he  joined 
the  Conference,  and  was  appointed  to  the  Green 
Circuit,  in  East  Tennessee.  In  1796,  he  returned 
to  Kentucky,  and  traveled  on  the  Danville,  and  in 
1797,  on  the  Lexington  Circuit. 

Daring  this  year  he  married,  and,  finding  it  im- 
possible to  support  his  family  in  the  itinerancy,  he 
located  at  the  close  of  the  year.  "  Such  was  the 
prejudice  that  existed  in  the  Church,  at  that  day, 
against  married  preachers,  that  it  was  almost  out 
of  the  question  for  any  man  to  continue  in  the  work 
if  he  had  a  wife."* 

He  continued  in  a  local  sphere  for  only  a  few 
years,  when,  in  1801,  he  was  readmitted  into  the 
Conference,  and  appointed  to  the  Limestone  Cir- 
cuit. The  two  following  years  the  field  of  his  min- 
isterial labor  was  on  the  Scioto  and  Miami  Circuit, 
including  all  of  Southern  Ohio.  In  1803,  he  was 
returned  to  Kentucky,  where  he  remained  for  three 
years,  and  traveled  successively  the  Salt  River, 
Danville,  and  Shelby  Circuits.  In  1806  and  1807, 
he  was  again  appointed  to  the  Miami  Circuit,  and 
then  traveled  successively  on  the  Deer  Creek,  Hock- 
hocking,  Cincinnati,  White  Oak,  and  Union  Cir- 
cuits— all  lying  beyond  the  Ohio  River.  In  1814, 
he  again  returned  to  Kentucky,  where  he  preached 
and  labored  as  long  as  he  was  able  to  be  effective. 

*Finlcy's  Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,  p.  180. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  207 

His  last  appointment  was  to  the  Ilinkstone  Circuit, 
where  he  continued  for  two  years.* 

At  the  Conference  of  1818,  he  was  placed  on  the 
list  of  supernumerary  preachers  ;  but  the  following 
year,  on  the  superannuated  roll,  which  relation  he 
sustained  until  his  death. 

For  a  few  years  after  the  failure  of  his  health,  he 
remained  in  Kentucky ;  but,  at  a  later  period,  he 
removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Clermont  county, 
near  Felicity.  Although  unable  to  perform  the 
work  of  an  efficient  preacher  in  the  position  he 
occupied,  he  never  spent  an  idle  Sabbath  when  it 
could  be  prevented.  Having  regular  appointments 
at  accessible  points,  when  no  longer  able  to  perform 
the  arduous  labors  that  had  characterized  him  in 
the  strength  of  his  manhood,  even  down  to  the 
grave,  he  determined  to  "make  full  proof  of  his 
ministry,"  by  contributing  his  wasting  life  to  the 
proclamation  of  the  truths  of  the  gospel.  In  the 
morning  of  his  life,  "  he  was  one  of  those  ministers 
who  stood  side  by  side,  and  guided  the  Church 
through  that  most  remarkable  revival  of  religion 
that  swept  like  a  tornado  over  the  western  world. 
In  the  greatest  excitement,  the  clear  and  pene- 
trating voice  of  Lakin  might  be  heard  amid  the 
din  and  roar  of  the  Lord's  battle,  directing  the 
wounded  to  the  Lamb  of  God  who  taketh  away  the 
sins  of  the  world.  Day  and  night  he  was  upon  the 
watch-tower ;  and  in  the  class  and  praying  circles. 


*  Mr.  Lakin  received   into  the  Church,  among  others,  the  Rev. 
John  P.  Durbin,  D.D.,  and  Bishop  Kavanaugh. 


208  METHODISM 

his  place  was  never  empty — leading  the  blind  by 
the  right  way,  carrying  the  lambs  in  his  bosom, 
urging  on  the  laggard  professor,  and  warning  sin- 
ners, in  tones  of  thunder,  to  '  flee  from  the  wrath 
to  come.' "  "^  From  the  time  he  joined  the  itinerant 
ranks  until  his  name  disappears  from  the  effective 
roll,  "he  w^as  abundant  in  labors,  and  never  hesi- 
tated to  tax  a  robust  constitution  to  the  extent  of 
its  ability."  t  In  those  religious  controversies  in 
Kentucky,  -svhich,  in  early  times,  not  only  disturbed 
the  peace,  but  threatened  for  a  while  the  very  exist- 
ence of  the  Church,  he  stood  amongst  the  foremost 
in  vindication  of  the  truth,  repelling  with  gigantic 
power  the  attacks  of  all  opponents.  Always  fluent 
in  speech,  and  often  truly  eloquent — not  only  a 
bold,  but  an  able  defender  of  the  Church;  sacri- 
ficing the  pleasures  of  home  to  bear  the  tidings  of 
a  Saviour's  love — Benjamin  Lakin  held  as  warm  a 
place  in  the  affections  of  the  Methodists  of  Ken- 
tucky, of  the  past  generation,  as  did  any  one  of  the 
noble  men  who  were  his  associates  in  labor. 

On  the  28th  of  January,  1849,  he  preached  his 
last  sermon  to  a  congregation  in  McKendree  Chapel, 
Brown  count}'^,  Ohio.  He  returned  to  his  home  at 
Point  Pleasant  on  the  following  Tuesday,  com- 
plaining of  indisposition.  He,  however,  started  on 
the  succeeding  Friday,  on  horseback,  to  a  quarterly 
meeting  at  Felicity,  Ohio.  He  rode  about  six 
miles,  when  he  reached  the  house  of  his  niece,  Mrs. 


*  Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,  p.  183. 

f  Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper,  in  Home  Circle,  Vol.  III.,  p.  211. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  209 

Eichards,  in  usual  health,  and  enjoying  a  very 
happy  frame  of  mind.*  ^'About  twelve  o'clock 
that  night,  he  was  attacked  with  a  chill  and  nausea. 
On  Saturday  and  Sabbath  he  continued  quite  un- 
well. On  Monday  he  was  much  better ;  and,  after 
eating  his  supper  in  the  evening,  he  sat  some  time 
by  the  fire,  and  conversed  sweetly  with  the  family. 
At  about  seven  o'clock  he  arose,  looked  at  his 
watch,  and  walked  out  of  the  room  toward  the 
front  door.  A  noise  being  heard  in  the  entry,  the 
family  followed,  and  found  he  had  fallen  to  the 
floor.  The  first  supposition  ^vas  that  he  had 
fainted,  and  they  made  an  effort  to  revive  him ;  but 
it  was  the  paralyzing  touch   of  death — his  spirit 

had  fled,  "t 

John  "Watson  entered  the  ranks  as  an  itinerant  in 
1792.  The  first  four  years  of  his  ministry  were 
spent  on  the  Clarksburg,  Huntingdon,  and  Pitts- 
burgh Circuits.  J  In  1796,  he  came  to  Kentucky, 
where,  after  remaining  one  year  on  the  Salt  River 
Circuit,  he  was  sent  to  the  Russell  Circuit,  in  Vir- 
ginia. The  next  year,  he  returned  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  remained  for  two  years,  preaching  on  the 
Hinkstone  and  Lexington  Circuits.  In  the  year 
1800,  he  again  left  Kentucky,  to  enter  it  as  an  itin- 
erant preacher  no  more.  "We,  however,  see  him 
lifting  the  standard  of  the  cross  on  the  Holston  and 
'New  River  Circuits,  in  Virginia — proclaiming  the 
unsearchable  riches  of  Christ — from  1802  to  1805, 

^  Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,  pp.  183,  184. 
t  General  Minutes  M.  E.  Church,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  385. 
J  He  traveled  on  the  Pittsburgh  Circuit  two  years. 


210  METHODISM 

througliout  the  vast  extent  of  territory  embraced  in 
the  Holston  District.  In  1805,  he  is  the  standard- 
bearer  on  the  Swanino  District,  in  South  Carolina, 
where  he  declines  in  health  until  his  "tired  nature  " 
is  compelled  to  seek  for  rest.  The  following  year 
finds  him  a  supernumerary,  with  "  longing-  desires 
for  his  early  home."  Restored  to  health,  we  see 
him  once  more  amid  the  active  duties  of  his  sacred 
calling.  In  1807,  he  was  appointed  to  Washington 
City,  in  the  Baltimore  Conference,  in  the  bounds 
of  which  we  see  him  actively  engaged,  filling  various 
charges,  until  the  Conference  of  1824,  when  his 
health  gives  way,  compelling  him,  first,  to  ask  for  a 
supernumerary  relation ;  and  the  subsequent  year, 
to  be  placed  upon  the  superannuated  roll,  where 
he  remains  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the 
early  part  of  the  summer  of  1838,  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Weller,  near  Martinsburg,  Virginia. 

We  regret  that  we  are  in  possession  of  so  few 
facts  in  reference  to  Mr.  Watson.  During  the  three 
years  he  spent  in  Kentucky,  he  contributed  largely 
toward  the  building  up  of  the  Church.  The  first 
year — which  he  spent  on  the  Salt  Eiver  Circuit — 
his  labors  were  not  only  abundant,  but  were 
crowned  with  success. 

The  "Level  Woods  Society,"*  that,  in  the  early 
days  of  Methodism,  sent  out  such  a  salutary  influ- 
ence into  all  the  surrounding  country,  and  that  still 
blesses  the  community  within  its  range,  was  organ- 
ized by  him. 


*In  Larnc  county. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  211 

Henry  Smith  also  came  to  Kentucky  this  year. 
Although  only  three  years  of  his  ministry  were 
spent  in  this  field,  yet  the  prominent  part  that  he 
bore  as  an  itinerant  Methodist  preacher  for  more 
than  two  generations,  the  labors  he  performed,  his 
great  usefulness,  together  with  his  spotless  life,  de- 
mand more  than  a  passing  notice. 

He  was  born  near  Frederick  City,  Maryland, 
April  23,  1769,  and  was  of  German  parentage.  He 
was  baptized  in  infancy  in  the  communion  of  the 
German  Reformed  Church,  of  which  his  parents 
were  members,  and  under  the  influence  of  which 
he  was  brought  up.  In  the  autumn  of  1790,  under 
the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Scott,  he  was 
awakened  to  a  sense  of  his  sinfulness,  and  admitted 
by  him  into  the  Church  as  a  seeker  of  religion. 
About  two  weeks  afterward,  while  his  father  was 
conversing  with  him  one  day,  and  explaining  the 
nature  of  faith  as  the  only  condition  of  the  sinner's 
justification,  he  says  :  "  The  glorious  plan  of  salva- 
tion opened  to  my  mind.  I  believed  with  a  heart 
unto  righteousness,  and  stepped  into  the  liberty  of 
the  children  of  God."* 

Impressed  with  the  conviction  that  he  ought  to 
preach  the  gospel,  yet  without  the  advantages  of 
education,  only  to  a  very  limited  extent,  he  obtained 
license  to  preach  in  August,  1793.  His  name  ap- 
pears in  the  General  Minutes,  for  the  first  time,  in 
1794,  in  connection  with  the  Clarksburg  Circuit,  in 
Western  Virginia,  although,  the  greater  portion  of 


*  General  Minutes  M.  E.  Church,  Vol.  X.,  p.  17. 


212  METHODISM 

the  previous  year,  lie  had  labored  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Presiding  Elder  on  the  Berkeley  Cir- 
cuit. In  1796,  he  was  sent  as  a  missionary  to 
Kentucky,  and  appointed  to  the  Limestone  Circuit ; 
and  in  1797,  to  Salt  River.  The  following  year  we 
find  him  prosecuting  his  calling  on  the  Green  Cir- 
cuit, in  East  Tennessee. 

At  the  Conference  of  1799,  he  was  appointed  to 
the  Miami  Circuit,  in  the  JSTorth-western  Territory ; 
and  the  following  two  years,  to  the  Scioto  and 
Miami,  combined.  In  1802,  he  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky,  and  was  stationed  on  the  Limestone  Circuit ; 
in  1803,  on  the  l^ollichuckie.  In  1804,  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Baltimore  Conference,  in  connec- 
tion with  which  he  continued  until  his  death. 

For  twenty-four  years  after  his  return  to  the  Bal- 
timore Conference,  he  bore  an  active  part  as  a 
faithful  herald  of  the  cross.  In  whatever  position 
he  was  placed,  whether  as  a  pastor  or  as  the  Pre- 
siding Elder  of  a  District,  he  labored  with  untiring 
energy,  and  made  "good  proof  of  his  ministry." 
During  a  ministry  of  seventy  years— forty-two  of 
which  he  was  actively  employed  in  the  itinerant 
work — he  labored  with  a  zeal  that  knew  no  limit, 
except  his  own  wasting  strength.*  The  perform- 
ance of  his  work  during  the  three  years  that  he 
labored  in  the  North-western  Territory,  was  suffi- 
cient not  only  to  have  exhausted  the  strength,  but 
to  have  prostrated  the  energies,  of  any  man.  In 
entering  upon  this  work,  he  crossed  the  Ohio  River 

*  General  Minutes  M.  E.  Church,  Vol.  X.,  pp.  17,  18. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  213 

at  tlie  mouth  of  the  Little  Miami,  on  the  11th  day 
of  September;  and  on  the  following  Sabbath,  the 
14th  of  the  month,  "  for  the  first  time,  he  sounded 
the  peaceful  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  to  a  listening 
few  on  the  pleasant  banks  of  the  Miami."  * 

Uniting  his  field  of  labor  with  the  Scioto,  and 
forming  a  six-weeks'  circuit,  he  directed  his  course 
up  the  Ohio  River,  and  "  found  some  families 
friendly  to  religion."  At  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto 
he  found  several  Methodist  families  "from  Red- 
stone and  Kentucky,"  and  organized  them  into  a 
class.  On  the  15th  of  October,  he  preached  in 
Chillicothe,  "for  the  first  time,  to  a  considerable  con- 
gregation," but  met  wdth  no  success.  His  circuit 
embraced  a  large  territory,  over  which  he  traveled 
regularly  every  six  weeks,  organizing  societies,  and 
performing  all  the  work  of  a  minister  of  Christ. f 

It  is  a  melancholy  hour  for  a  faithful  minister  who 
had  spent  the  morning  and  the  noon  of  his  life  in 
the  eftective  field — who  had  cheerfully  made  sacri- 
fices, sufiered  privations,  and  met  hardships,  without 
complaint,  that  he  might  aid  in  the  advancement 
of  the  noble  cause  of  gospel  truth — when  his  waning 
strength  compels  him  to  seek  such  a  change  in  his 
relation  to  the  work  as  deprives  him  of  a  pastoral 
charge.  For  nearly  forty  years,  Henry  Smith  had 
gone  in  and  out  among  his  brethren,  a  representa- 
tive man.  In  the  mountains  of  Western  Virginia ; 
in  the  sparsely  settled  State  of  Kentucky ;  in  East 


*  Methodist  Magazine,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  271. 
t  Ibid.,  p.  273. 


214  METHODISM 

Tennessee ;  along  the  waters  of  the  Nollichuckie ; 
and  across  the  "beautiful  Ohio,"  in  advance  of  the 
rapid  tide  of  emigration  ;  and  then  amid  the  scenes 
of  his  early  childhood,  he  had,  in  the  forefront  of 
the  battle,  "lifted  the  consecrated  cross."  I^othing 
daunted  by  the  perils  to  which  he  was  exposed  from 
the  Indians,  nor  discouraged  by  the  privations  he 
endured,  nor  the  want  of  support,  he  had  ever  been 
true  to  the  trust  confided  to  him  by  his  brethren. 
In  1828,  his  name  is  stricken,  for  the  first  time, 
from  the  efiective  roll,  and  he  is  returned  as  suioer- 
annuated.  In  the  following  year,  with  his  strength 
slightly  renewed,  he  reenters  the  list,  and  for  six 
years  prosecutes  his  labors  as  an  itinerant;  and 
then,  at  the  Conference  of  1835,  he  yields  to  ad- 
vancing age,  and,  as  a  superannuated  preacher, 
retires  from  the  efiective  list,  to  be  placed  upon  it 
no  more. 

He  settled  at  Hookstown,  Baltimore  county, 
Maryland.  In  referring  to  this  event,  he  says : 
"On  reflecting  that  the  Lord  had  provided  a 
home  for  me,  after  many  years'  wandering  with- 
out house  or  home,  and  just  at  the  very  time 
when  I  must  change  my  relation  to  the  Con- 
ference— for  I  plainly  saw  that  I  could  no  longer 
do  effective  work — I  felt  grateful  to  him  for  all  his 
tender  mercies  over  me,  and  called  my  house  '  Pil- 
grim's Rest.'  Perhaps  'Pilgrim's  Lodge'  would 
have  been  a  more  suitable  name,  for  this  is  not  yet 
my  rest."* 

*  General  Minutes  M.  E.  Churcli,  for  1863,  p.  18. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  215 

For  about  thirty  years  he  sustained  this  reLation  to 
the  Baltimore  Confereuce — so  bright  an  example  of 
meekness,  patience,  and  of  all  the  adornments  of 
Christian  character,  that  he  was  called  "  good  Henry 
Smith." 

"As  he  drew  near  his  end,  and  was  no  longer 
able  to  speak,  he  made  signs  to  those  who  sat 
w^atching  by  him  of  a  desire  to  be  placed  in  his 
usual  attitude  of  prayer.  After  remaining  on  his 
knees  about  two  minutes,  he  was  gently  laid  upon 
his  bed  again,  where  he  lingered  for  a  short  time, 
and  then  expired,  in  the  ninety-fourth  year  of  his 
age,  and  sixty-ninth  of  his  ministry."* 

Mr.  Smith,  although  a  delicately  framed  man, 
outlived  all  his  cotemporaries. 

By  order  of  the  Baltimore  Conference,  held 
March  4,  1863,  it  was  resolved  that  his  remains 
should  be  removed  from  Hookstown,  where  he  was 
buried,  to  Mount  Olivet  Cemetery,  there  to  repose 
with  the  dust  of  Bishops  Asbury,  George,  AYaugh, 
and  Emory,  f 

The  successfal  termination  of  the  expedition 
under  Gen.  "Wavne  brouo:ht  with  it  the  most  bene- 
ficial  results  to  Kentucky.  Not  onl}^  did  hundreds 
of  persons  return  to  the  homes  which  they  had  left 
for  safety,  but  a  tide  of  emigration  from  Virginia 
and  Maryland,  and  other  States,  set  in,  that  in- 
creased the  population  with  remarkable  rapidity. 

Among  those  who  this  year  sought  a  home  in 


*  General  Minutes  M.  E.  Church,  for  1863,  p.  17. 
tlbid.,p.  18. 


216  METHODISM 

Kentucky,  was  the  Rev.  Joliu  Baird.     He  had  been 
for  several  years  a  traveling  preacher  in  Maryland. 
In    1791,   he    was    admitted   into    the   itinerancy, 
and  traveled  successively  the  Cecil,  the   Somerset, 
and  Talbot  Circuits.     In  the  itinerant  ministry  he 
had  been  successful  in  the  great  work  of  doing 
good.     In  1795,  he  located,  and  immediately  emi- 
grated to  Kentucky.     He  passed  by  the  Falls  of 
the  Ohio,  and  declined  a  settlement  on  the  fertile 
lands  at  the  mouth  of  Beargrass  Creek,  in  conse- 
quence of  their  unhealthy  location ;   and,  finding  a 
home  more  congenial  to  his  views  of  health,  he  set- 
tled  in   I^elson   county,  (now  Larue,)   at  what   is 
known  as  the  *' Level  Woods."      Distinguished  for 
his  ability  in  the  pulpit,  as  well  as  for  his  devotion 
to  the  Church,  he  determined  to  sow  the  seeds  of 
Methodism  in  the  neighborhood  in  which  he  re- 
sided.     The   first   sermon   ever  preached  in   that 
neighborhood  was  delivered  by  Mr.  Baird,  on  the 
7th  of  August,  1796,  at  the  house  of  Philip  Reed, 
Esq.    A  short  time  afterward,  a  small  society — con- 
sisting of  the  Rev.  John  Baird,  Elizabeth  Baird, 
William  and  Matthew  Mellander,  James  and  Ann 
Murph}^ — was  organized  by  the  Rev.  John  Watson, 
which  gradually  increased  until  it  numbered  about 
seventy  members.*     The  influence  exerted  by  the 

*A  letter  from  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Redford,  the  present  pastor,  informs 
us  that  "  out  of  this  class  several  societies  have  subsequently  been 
formed.  At  one  time  it  dwindled  to  twenty-five  members.  At  the 
commencement  of  the  Conference-year  for  1838  and  1839,  it  again 
increased  to  forty-two  members.  At  the  present  time,  (January, 
1868,)  this  society  numbers  seventy-four^ 


IN    KENTUCKY.  217 

life  and  labors  of  John  Baird  is  felt  to  the  present 
time,  not  only  in  his  family,  but  in  the  community 
in  which  he  lived  and  died.  In  all  the  surrounding 
country,  he,  as  an  able  expounder  of  the  word  of 
God,  proclaimed  its  heaven-born  truths.  For  fifty 
years  his  walk  and  conversation  exemplified  the 
doctrines  of  the  gospel,  and  in  death  their  hallowed 
principles  afforded  him  sweet  consolation. 

On  a  marble  slab,  in  the  garden,  close  by  where 
he  lived  and  breathed  his  last,  is  the  inscription : 

Sacred 
to  the  memory  of 

THE     EEV.     JOHN     BAIKD, 

who  departed  this  life, 

April  17,  1846, 

in  the  78th  year  of  his  age, 

54  years   of   which  he  spent 

in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 

calling  sinners  to  repentance. 

He  was  an  acceptable  preacher, 

an  aflfectionate  husband, 

a  kind  father, 

and  faithful  friend. 

"We  report  this  year  an  increase  oi  forty-seven  in 
the  membership.  The  causes  of  the  small  increase 
in  the  membership  about  this  period  will  be  ac- 
counted for  in  a  separate  chapter. 

At  this  Conference  the  Shelby  Circuit  was  formed, 
or  rather  detached  from  the  Salt  River — making  six 
circuits  in  Kentucky. 


218  METHODISM 


CHAPTER    IX. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1797  TO  THE  CONFERENCE 

OF  1799. 

The  Conference  of  1797  held  at  Bethel  Academy — Bishop  Asbury — 
Thomas  Allen — Francis  Poythress — Williams  Kavanaugh — John 
Kobler  —  Decrease  in  membership  —  The  Conference  of  1798  held 
on  Holston  —  Robert  Wilkerson  —  Valentine  Cook  —  Increase  in 
membership — John  Kobler,  the  first  missionary  to  Ohio, 

The  Conference  for  1797  was  held  at  Bethel 
Academy,  and  met  on  the  1st  day  of  May.  Bishops 
Asbury  was  present,  and  presided.*  In  his  journal 
he  informs  us  that,  ^'from  the  9th  of  April  to  the 
27th  of  May,"  he  kept  no  written  account  of  his 
travels ;  that,  during  this  period,  (which  embraced 
his  visit  to  Kentucky,)  he  had  "  traveled  about  six 
hundred  miles,  with  an  inflammatory  fever  and 
fixed  pain  in  his  breast."  His  diet  was  ''chiefly 
tea,  potatoes,  Indian-meal  gruel,  and  chicken  broth." 
His  "  only  reading  "  was  "  the  Bible."  Why,  under 
such  severe  afilictions,  did  he  not  seek  for  rest? 
Thoughts  of  the  "  charge  "  confided  to  his  trust, 
"  of  the  Conferences,  and  the  Church,"  pressed  him 
on.  "I  must,"  said  he,  "be  made  perfect  through 
sufferings."  "Cheerful"  all  the  while,  yet  some- 
times "forced  by  weakness  to  stop"  for  a  short 
time,  he  expresses  his  gratitude  for  the  distinguished 

^  Judge  Scott. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  219 

kindness  "shown  him  by  families"  with  whom  he 
made  a  brief  sojourn.  Truly,  he  was  "made  per- 
fect through  sufterings" — an  evangelist,  in  the 
highest  sense  of  that  term. 

In  the  Minutes  of  the  Conference,  the  names  of 
three  preachers,  not  previously  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  the  work  in  Kentucky,  appear  in  the 
list  of  Appointments  :  Thomas  Allen,  John  Kobler, 
and  Williams  Kavanaugh. 

Of  Thomas  Allen  we  have  no  information,  only 
such  as  we  derive  from  the  General  Minutes.  The 
present  year  he  was  admitted  on  trial,  and  appointed 
to  the  Danville  Circuit.  The  following  year,  he 
was  sent  to  the  IsTew  Eiver  Circuit,  in  Virginia.  At 
the  subsequent  Conference,  he  was  returned  to 
Kentucky,  and  appointed  to  the  Salt  River  and 
Shelby  Circuit;  and  in  1800,  to  the  Lexington. 
This  year  closed  his  itinerant  labors.  At  the  fol- 
lowing Conference,  he  located. 

The  health  of  the  Rev.  Francis  Poythress — who, 
since  the  Conference  of  1787,  had  held  the  respon- 
sible position  of  Presiding  Elder  over  the  District  in 
Kentucky — had,  through  incessant  labors,  so  far 
declined  as  to  render  it  impracticable  for  him  to 
perform  any  longer  the  onerous  duties  of  the  office. 
In  the  Minutes  of  this  year,  he  is  returned  as  a 
supernumerary,  and  John  Kobler  is  reported  as  his 
successor  on  the  District. 

"Williams  Kavanaugh,*  whose  name  is  this  year 

*He  was  the  father  of  Bishop  Hubbard  Hincle  Kavanaugh, 
Benjamin  T.,  Leroy  H.,  and  Williams  B.  Kavanaugh— all  Methodist 
ministers. 


220  METHODISM 

mentioned  in  the  list  of  Appointments  for  Ken- 
tucky, was  born  August  3, 1775.  In  a  famil}^  Bible 
now  in  the  possession  of  the  family,  there  is  the 
following  record,  in  his  own  hand-writing : 

"  My  grandfather  in  the  paternal  line  was  named 
Philemon.  He  was  descended  from  an  ancient 
Irish  family,  (I  have  understood,)  much  devoted  to 
the  Stuart  interest.  About  A.  D.  1705,  he  and 
one  other  brother  came  to  Virginia,  and  first  settled 
in  Essex  county,  though  my  grandfather's  final  set- 
tlement was  in  Culpepper.  He  was  twice  married. 
His  last  wife's  maiden  name  was  Williams.  She 
was  from  Wales.  My  grandfather  had  several 
children  by  each  marriage.  My  father  was  (by  the 
last  marriage)  a  posthumous  child,  and  was  called 
by  his  mother's  maiden  name. 

"My  grandfather  in  the  maternal  line,  (whose 
name  was  Harrison,)  was  born,  I  believe,  in  Eng- 
land, though  he  came  from  New  England  to  Vir- 
ginia. He  and  two  brothers,  who  came  with  him, 
all  lived  to  very  great  ages.  His  wife's  maiden 
name  was  Johnson,  or  Johnston,  of  a  Scotch  family. 
My  father  and  mother  were  both  born  in  February, 
1744,  Old  Style.  When  they  were  married,  I  do  not 
know." 

His  father,  Williams  Kavanaugh,  came  to  Ken- 
tucky at  a  very  early  period,  and  settled  in  Madison 
county.  A  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  a  warm-hearted,  zealous  Christian,  he 
impressed  upon  the  tender  heart  of  his  son  the  im- 
portance of  Christianit}^,  and  the  doctrine  of  the 
new  birth.     Converted  in  early  life,  Williams  Kava- 


IN     KENTUCKY.  221 

naugh,  Jr.,  at  nineteen  years  of  age,  entered  upon 
the  labors  and  duties  of  an  itinerant  preacher.      In 
1794,  at  the  Conference  held  at  Lewis's  Chapel,  in 
Jessamine  county,  his  name  was  placed  upon  the 
Conference  roll.     His  first  appointment  was  to  the 
Green  Circuit,  in  East  Tennessee,  with  Lewis  Gar- 
rett as  his  colleague.    Mr.  Garrett  says :  "Williams 
Kavanaugh  and  myself  proceeded  to  Green  Circuit. 
This  circuit  was  a  frontier  circuit.     It  lay  along  the 
Holston  and  French  Broad  Rivers.      There  were 
few  settlers  south  of  French  Broad,  and  what  there 
were  either  lived  in  forts,  cooped  up  in  dread,  or 
lived  in  strongly  built  houses,  with  puncheon  doors, 
barred  up  strongly  when  night  approached.      The 
Cherokee  Indians,  who  were  their  near  neighbors, 
were  in  a  state  of  hostility.     We  visited  those  forts 
and  scattered  settlers,  in  quest  of  perishing  souls." 
To  reach  this  remote  field,  he  had  to  pass  "  through 
the  wilderness,  which  was  both  difficult  and  danger- 
ous."    In  company  with  *'  about  sixty  men,  six  of 
whom   were   traveling  preachers" — among  whom 
were   John   Ray  and   Lewis   Garrett — he  left  the 
Crab  Orchard,  the  place  where  the  company  met, 
and  set  out  upon  his  journey.     The  first  night  he 
encamped  in  the  vicinity  of  a  fort  in  the  woods, 
with  no  covering  but  the  clear  blue  sky.     Around 
their   camp-fires    they   worshiped   God — '^the    in- 
trepid, fearless,  zealous  Ray  "  leading  in  the  devo- 
tions. 

The  next  day,  the  company  *'  passed  the  gloomy 
spot  where,  a  short  time  before,"  several  persons 
"had  been  massacred  by  the  Indians,  two  of  whom 


222  METHODISM 

were  Baptist  preachers;"  and  again,  at  night,  they 
slept  in  the  woods. 

The  third  day,  they  "  crossed  the  Cumherland 
Mountains,  and  reached  the  settlement  on  Clinch 
River,  where"  they  "rested  until  the  next  day."* 

Although  only  a  youth,  he  was  not  insensible  to 
the  responsibilities  of  the  holy  office  to  which  he 
had  been  called.  He  prosecuted  with  a  commend- 
able zeal  the  duties  imposed  upon  him,  and  won  a 
warm  place  in  the  confidence  and  affections,  not 
only  of  the  people,  but  of  his  colleague,  Mr.  Gar- 
rett, by  whom  he  w^as  always  kindly  remembered. 

In  1795,  he  was  sent  to  the  Brunswick  Circuit ; 
in  1796,  to  the  Cumberland — both  lying  in  the  State 
of  Virginia.  In  the  Minutes  of  1797,  his  name  ap- 
pears in  connection  with  two  circuits — the  Franklin, 
in  Virginia,  and  the  Salt  River,  in  Kentucky.  It  is 
probable  that  he  spent  the  first  six  months  on  the 
Franklin,  and  the  latter  in  Kentucky. 

On  the  29th  of  March,  1798,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Hannah  H.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Thomas  Hinde ; 
and  at  the  ensuing  Conference,  he  asked  for  and 
obtained  a  location. 

While  we  deeply  regret  that  a  minister  who  prom- 
ised so  much  usefulness  to  the  Church  as  did  Mr. 
Kavanaugh,  should  have  retired  from  the  itinerant 
field,  5'et  we  cannot  be  insensible  to  the  reasons 
that  decided  him  in  this  purpose.  The  vast  extent 
of  territory  embraced  in  a  single  circuit,  separating 
a  minister  from  his  family  nearly  all  the  time,  to- 

*  Rocolloctions  of  tho  West. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  223 

gether  with   the   difficulty  of  obtaining  the  most 
meager  support,  influenced  him  to  this  step.* 

In  his  local  relation,  however,  he  was  not  idle. 
His  name  stands  recorded  as  one  of  the  eight  per- 
sons who  formed  the  first  class  at  Ebenezer,t  in 
Clarke  county.  Spending  the  principal  portion  of 
the  week  in  teaching  school,  he  devoted  his  Sab- 
baths to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  in  which  he  had 
already  attained  eminence.  His  mind,  however, 
had  no  rest.  He  was  then  an  ordained  Deacon. 
He  felt  the  incongruity  of  such  an  office  in  the 
Church,  without  a  pastoral  relation ;  and  the  more 
he  pondered  the  duties  devolving  upon  a  minister 
of  the  gospel,  the  more  unpleasant  he  felt  to  hold 
the  office  without  an  opportunity  to  discharge  the 
duties  involved.  He  was  not  willing  to  be  what 
was  but  a  little  more  than  a  nominal  minister  of  the 
gospel;  and  this  gave  him  much  disquietude  of 
mind.  Some  gentlemen  of  the  bar  urged  him  to 
study  law  and  enter  upon  the  practice,  stating  that 
his  talents — analytical  and  strongly  discriminative — 


*  Among  the  preachers  who  were  traveling  in  this  division  of  the 
work,  Messrs.  Burke  and  Page  were  the  only  married  men  who  had 
been  able  to  continue  in  the  itinerancy. 

f  Bishop  Kavanaugh  writes  us  from  Lexington,  Kentucky,  March 
11,  1868:  "I  learn  from  my  mother,  that  he  gave  the  Church  the 
name  it  bears,  or  rather  has  borne,  in  the  various  edifices  which  the 
society  there  has  erected,  and  which  the  remaining  members  and 
their  friends  are  about  to  erect,  for  Ebenezer,  this  spring  and  sum- 
mer, under  the  auspices  of  our  young  and  enterprising  brother,  W. 
T.  Pojmter,  so  recently  taken  into  the  Kentucky  Conference,  and  so 
new  in  the  ministry,  and  now  the  stationed  preacher  at  Winchester, 
Kentucky." 


224  METHODISM 

eminently  fitted  liim  for  that  profession ;  but  his 
convictions  were  that  it  was  his  duty  to  preach  the 
gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,  and  that  he  dare  not 
compromise  this  duty.  Believing  that  he  could, 
without  the  compromise  of  principle,  become  a 
minister  of  the  gospel  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  and  sustain  the  relation  of  pastor,  he  de- 
termined to  do  so,  made  his  application,  and  was 
received. 

After  entering  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
he  spent  a  short  time  in  the  city  of  Louisville,  but 
afterward  settled  in  Henderson,  as  the  rector  of 
that  parish,  where,  on  the  16th  of  October,  1806,  he 
ended  his  labors  and  his  life. 

Reared  under  Methodist  influences,  blessed  with 
the  example  and  the  instruction  of  pious  parents 
from  his  childhood,  converted,  and  having  entered 
the  ministry  when  only  a  youth,  during  the  entire 
period  of  his  connection  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  his  piety  shone  with  resplendent 
luster.  As  a  preacher,  ''  he  was  not  boisterous,  but 
fluent,  ready,  and  his  sermons  smoothly  delivered ; 
his  style  perspicuous,  and  every  word  expressive  of 
the  idea  intended." 

However  much  we  may  regret  that  he  was  influ- 
enced to  make  any  change  in  his  Church-relations, 
it  is  gratifying  to  know  that  he  carried  into  the  Com- 
munion which  he  entered,  the  deep  piety  and  devo- 
tion to  the  work  of  the  ministry  that  distinguished 
him  as  an  evangelist  in  the  Church  of  his  father. 
Judge  Scott  says :  "  He  sustained  an  excellent  char- 
acter until  he  died." 


IN     KENTUCKY.  225 

We  close  this  sketch  with  the  following  letter, 
received  by  us  from  the  Rev.  B.  B.  Smith,  D.D., 
the  Senior  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  : 

"  Some  years  after  I  entered  upon  the  office  of 
the  first  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  Diocese  of  Kentucky,  it  occurred  to  me  that 
it  might  become  a  matter  of  some  interest  to  those 
who  should  come  after  me,  if  I  were  at  some  pains 
to  collect  such  fragmentary  notices  as  I  could  obtain 
of  those  early  clergy  who  accompanied  the  first  col- 
onies which  came  to  Kentucky,  chiefly  from  Vir- 
ginia. Some  of  these  notices  were  not  at  all 
creditable  to  the  characters  of  some  of  the  colonial 
clergy.  For  example :  Dr.  Chambers,  of  JSTelson 
county,  fell  in  a  duel  with  the  celebrated  Judge 
Rowan ;  and  the  distinguished  Judge  Sebastian, 
who  escaped  impeachment  by  resigning — on  the 
accusation,  which  proved  susceptible  of  a  favorable 
interpretation,  of  receiving  a  pension  from  the 
Spanish  Governor  of  Louisiana.  The  letters  of 
orders  of  both  these,  and  of  that  amiable  and 
blameless  Swedenborgian,  Dr.  Gant,  of  Louisville, 
by  Bishops  in  England,  were  submitted  to  my 
inspection. 

"  The  most  favorable  impression  made  b}^  any  of 
them  upon  my  mind,  was  made,  by  all  that  I  could 
learn,  by  the  Rev.  Williams  Kavanaugh,  of  Hen- 
derson, who,  however,  was  not  ordained  in  Eng- 
land, but  either  by  Bishop  White,  of  Pennsylvania, 
or  by  Bishop  Madison,  of  Virginia,  if  I  remember 
aright. 

VOL.  I. — 8 


226  METHODISM 

"Amongst  my  first  acquaintances  in  Henderson 
were  several  who  distinctly  remembered  to  have 
heard  him  preach ;  and  some,  I  think,  who  had  re- 
ceived baptism  at  his  hands.  His  memory  was 
cherished  as  that  of  a  good  man,  an  instructive  and 
interesting  preacher,  and  of  one  '  who  adorned  the 
doctrine  of  God  our  Saviour,'  by  a  blameless  and 
holy  life.  He  adorned  his  sacred  profession  in  all 
things." 

John  Kobler  was  born  in  Culpepper  county,  Vir- 
ginia, August  29,  1768.  Through  the  example  and 
teachings  of  a  pious  mother,  he  was  early  impressed 
with  the  importance  of  religion,  and  on  the  evening 
of  the  24th  of  December,  1787 — then  in  the  nine- 
teenth year  of  his  age — was  happily  converted  to 
God.  In  1790,*  he  entered  upon  the  itinerant 
work,  and  was  appointed  to  Amelia  Circuit.  His 
second  year  was  on  the  Bedford ;  his  third,  on  the 
Greenbrier — all  in  the  State  of  Virginia.  In  1793, 
though  only  twenty-five  years  of  age,  he  was  placed 
in  charge  of  the  District,  as  Presiding  Elder,  em- 
bracing New  River,  Green,  and  Holston  Circuits, 
where  he  remained  until  1797,  when  he  succeeded 
Mr.  Poythress  in  Kentucky. 

After  the  termination  of  the  Indian  war,  the 
ITorth-western  Territory  began  to  settle  rapidly. 
That  portion   of  it,  lying  in  the  State  of  Ohio, 

*The  probabilities  are  that  he  was  admitted  in  1789,  as  it  is 
so  stated  in  the  memoir  of  him  in  the  General  Minutes,  as  the 
Minutes  of  1790  recognize  him  as  "remaining  on  trial."  This  is 
confirmed  by  his  appointment  to  a  District  as  Presiding  Elder,  in 
1793.    The  Minutes  of  1789,  however,  have  no  notice  of  his  name. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  227 

known  as  the  Mad  lliver  country,  was  first  settled 
by  emigrants  from  Kentucky,  while  numbers  from 
the  same  State  settled  on  the  Big  and  Little 
Miamis.*  Among  those  who  had  gone  from 
Kentucky,  were  many  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  The  emigration  from  the  State  was  so 
great  that  "many  of  the  societies  were  broken 
up."  t  It  was  only  natural  that  Methodists  from 
Kentucky  should  look  to  the  State  whence  they  had 
emigrated  for  ministerial  aid. 

Mr.  Kobler,  then  in  the  flower  and  strength  of 
manhood — possessed  of  a  constitution  naturally  ro- 
bust ;  deeply  alive  to  a  sense  of  his  responsibility  to 
the  Church  and  to  God ;  familiar  with  the  dangers 
of  frontier  life,  and  well  prepared  to  meet  its  priva- 
tions and  hardships — cheerfully  volunteered  to  be 
the  first  missionary  to  cross  the  Ohio.  In  the  year 
1798,  he  enters  on  the  duty  of  forming  a  circuit  in 
the  JSTorth-western  Territory. J  In  entering  upon 
that  field  of  ministerial  labor,  "  he  found  the  coun- 
try almost  in  its  native  rude  and  uncultivated  state." 

*  Metliodist  Magazine,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  311. 

f  Western  Methodism,  p.  74. 

J  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hinde,  in  the  Methodist  Magazine,  Vol.  V.,  p. 
270,  fixes  the  date  of  Mr.  Kobler's  entrance  on  his  work  in  the 
North-western  Territory  at  1799;  but  Mr.  Kobler  himself,  in  an 
account  furnished  by  him  for  the  Western  Historical  Society,  in 
1841,  and  published  in  Finley's  Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,  p. 
169,  says:  "In  the  year  1798,  I  was  sent  by  Bishop  Asbury,  as 
a  missionary,  to  form  a  new  circuit  in  what  was  then  called  the 
North-western  Territory."  His  name,  for  1798,  stands  in  the  Min- 
utes in  connection  with  the  Cumberland  Circuit.  Judge  Scott 
informs  us  that  Bishop  Asbury  withdrew  him  from  the  Cumberland, 
and  appointed  Lewis  Hunt  in  his  place. 


228  METHODISM 

As  yet,  "  no  sound  of  the  everlasting  gospel  had 
broken  upon  tlieir  ears,  or  gladdened  their  hearts." 
It  is  true,  that  the  General  Minutes,  as  early  as  1787, 
report  a  circuit  under  the  name  of  Ohio,  but  this 
circuit  did  not  enter  any  portion  of  what  is  now 
that  State,  but  "  stretched  along  the  frontier  settle- 
ments of  the  Ohio  River,  in  Western  Pennsylvania 
and  Virginia."* 

He  remained  in  Ohio  until  the  ensuing  Confer- 
ence, having  formed  the  Miami  Circuit,  and  re- 
turned ninety-eight  white  members,  and  one  colored. 
In  1799,  we  find  him  in  charge  of  the  Hinkstone 
Circuit,  in  Kentucky ;  and  in  1800,  on  the  Orange, 
in  Virginia.  The  privations,  toils,  and  exposures 
incident  to  frontier  missionary  life,  *'  gave  to  his  con- 
stitution a  shock,  from  which  it  never  recovered." 
Prostrated  in  health,  at  the  Conference  of  1801,  he 
located,  and  "  settled  in  the  neighborhood  in  which 
he  was  born."  In  1836,  the  Baltimore  Conference, 
without  any  solicitation  on  his  part,  readmitted 
him,  and  placed  his  name  on  the  superannuated 
list,  where  it  remained  during  the  rest  of  his  life. 

Possessed  of  preaching  abilities  above  mediocrity, 
in  every  relation  he  sustained  to  the  Church — 
whether  in  the  itinerant  field,  or  in  a  local  sphere — 
he  prosecuted  with  untiring  zeal  the  great  work  to 
which  he  had  been  called. 

During  the  period  of  his  connection  with  the 
Church  in  Kentucky,  he  gave  entire  satisfaction  to 

*  Extract  from  proceedings  of  the  Ross  County  (Chillicothc)  Bar, 
on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  Judge  Scott. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  229 

both  preachers  and  people.  During  the  year  in 
which  he  presided  over  the  Kentucky  District,  with 
such  men  under  his  supervision  as  Page,  Lakin, 
Williams  Kavanaugh,  and  Henry  Smith,  he  exhib- 
ited those  high  qualifications,  both  as  a  preacher 
and  an  officer,  in  the  Church,  that  rendered  him  a 
universal  favorite,  and  crowned  his  ministry  with 
great  success.  Everywhere  he  went,  listening  crowds 
gathered  around  him,  and  communities  where  no 
Methodist  Churches  had  been  organized  invited  his 
ministrations.  At  that  period,  no  Church  had  been 
planted  in  the  town  of  "Washington,  then  the 
county-seat  of  Mason,  and  no  Methodist  preacher 
had  probably  ever  preached  in  the  place.  Through 
the  effi)rts  of  a  few  of  the  most  influential  citizens, 
the  use  of  the  court-house  was  obtained,  and  Mr. 
Kobler  was  invited  to  preach.  "All  the  respectable 
citizens  attended,  and  listened  to  his  sermon  with 
profound  attention."  When  the  public  services 
were  over,  the  people  insisted  that  he  was  wrongly 
named — that  he  was  no  cobbler,  but  a  complete 
workman.* 

It  always  affords  us  pleasure  to  know  that  one, 
the  morning  and  noon  of  whose  life  have  been  de- 
voted to  the  service  of  the  Church,  retains  his  influ- 
ence for  good  in  its  "  sere  and  yellow  leaf."  "  Fond 
of  meeting  with  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord,  to  wor- 
ship the  Most  High,  as  age  grew  upon  him,  and  his 
ability  to  transport  himself  to  the  distant  circuit 
appointm-ents  declined,  he  sought  for  a  residence  in 

*  Judge  Scott. 


230  METHODISM 

a  place  where  he  could  assemble  with  the  people  of 
God,  and  be  useful.  The  highly  favored  spot  of  his 
selection  was  Fredericksburg,  Virginia.  The  saint- 
like spirit,  the  Christian  conversation,  the  dignified 
and  ministerial  bearing,  and  the  untiring  labors  in 
preaching,  exhorting,  praying,  visiting  the  sick  and 
imprisoned,  of  John  Kobler,  have  done  more,  under 
God,  to  give  permanency  to  Methodism  in  Fred- 
ericksburg than  any  other  instrumentality  ever 
employed."* 

Amongst  the  last  active  labors  of  Mr.  Kobler  was 
a  tour  to  the  West,  in  his  seventy-fourth  year,  to 
solicit  aid  in  the  erection  of  a  more  comfortable 
church  in  Fredericksburg  than  the  one  in  which 
they  worshiped.  Appealing  to  those  to  whose 
fathers  he  had  preached  the  gospel,  he  placed  more 
than  one  thousand  dollars  in  the  hands  of  the 
building  committee.  He  lived  to  behold  the  com- 
pletion and  dedication  of  this  house  to  the  worship 
of  God,  and  to  see  in  it  the  most  interesting 
revival  of  religion  that  the  Church  in  Fredericks- 
burg had  ever  witnessed.  "  Hardl}^  had  the  work 
of  God  abated,  when  disease  laid  its  destroying 
hand  upon  him.  While  upon  his  bed  of  affliction, 
he  was  perfectly  happy;  his  countenance  always 
wore  a  smile  that  seemed  heavenly.  Without  mur- 
muring or  complaining,  and  with  lamb-like  pa- 
tience, he  suffered  his  Master's  wiU.  The  following 
are  some  of  the  remarks  he  made  durino^  his  afflic- 
tion :    '  Living  or  dying,  so  God  is  glorified,  and  I, 

^General  Minutes,  Vol.  III.,  p.  4G5. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  231 

a  poor  sinner,  saved,  is  all  I  want.'  Calling  on  his 
friends  to  engage  in  prayer,  he  was  asked,  *  Is  there 
any  thing  special  for  which  you  wish  us  to  pra}^  ? ' 
*Pray,'  said  he,  'for  the  Church,  that  God  would 
pour  out  his  Spirit  abundantly  upon  it,  and  take  it 
into  close  keeping  with  himself.'  And  again:  'I 
have  dug  deep,  and  brought  all  the  evidence  to 
bear,  and  I  find  I  have  a  strong  confidence,  which 
nothing  can  shake,  but  all  is  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  Brother,  I  wish  it  to  be  known  that 
the  principles  I  have  believed,  and  taught,  and 
practiced  in  life,  P  hold  in  death,  and  I  find  that 
they  sustain  me.  I  have  tried  all  my  life  to  make 
my  ministry  and  life  consistent.'  About  half  an 
hour  before  he  expired,  he  was  asked,  'Is  Jesus 
precious?'  'O  yes,'  said  he,  'very  precious,  very 
precious  ! '  and  then  added,  '  Come,  Lord  Jesus ! 
Come,  Lord  Jesus,  in  power!  Come  quickly!'  and 
then  in  a  few  minutes  breathed  his  last,  in  the 
seventy-fifth  year  of  his  age,  on  July  26,  1843." 

Although  the  Church  had  prosperity  in  many 
portions  of  the  State,  we  are  called  upon  to  report  a 
decrease  in  the  membership  of  one  hundred  and 
ninety-six. 

The  Shelby  and  Salt  River  Circuits  were  again 
united,  and  constituted  one  field  of  labor. 

In  the  arrangement  of  the  work,  there  was  no 
farther  change  previous  to  the  Conference  of  1800. 

The  Conference  for  Kentucky,  for  1798,  met  on 
the  1st  day  of  May,  on  Holston.*     Mr.  Burke,  in 

*  Judge  Scott.  We  also  learn  from  tlie  General  Minutes  that  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  Conference  was  for  the  date  and  place  we  have  given. 


232  METHODISM 

his  Autobiography,  says :  "  In  the  spring  of  1798, 
Bishop  Asbury  met  the  Conference  on  Holston." 
Mr.  Burke,  however,  is  evidently  mistaken  as  to 
Bishop  Asbury  being  present  at  this  Conference. 
On  the  2d  day  of  May,  according  to  his  journal,  we 
find  him  opening  the  Baltimore  Conference,  in  ref- 
erence to  which  he  says  :  "  Wednesday^  May  2.  Our 
Conference  began.  It  was  half-yearly^  to  bring  an 
equality  to  the  change  from  fall  to  spring." 

The  name  of  Robert  Wilkerson  appears  this  year 
among  the  Appointments  in  Kentucky.  In  1797,  he 
was  admitted  on  trial,  and  appointed  to  the  Green 
Circuit.  He  was  sent  to  the  Danville  Circuit  in 
1798.  He  remained  in  Kentucky  only  one  year. 
In  the  Appointments  for  1799,  his  name  stands  con- 
nected with  the  Guilford  Circuit,  and  in  1800,  with 
the  Haw  River — both  in  ^N'orth  Carolina.  In  1801, 
he  located. 

Valentine  Cook,  the  energetic  leader  for  the  pres- 
ent year  of  the  valiant  corps  of  preachers  who  were 
devoting  their  strength  in  this  "Western  field  to  the 
promotion  of  religious  truth,  had  already  labored 
successfully  for  several  years  in  the  East.  As  early 
as  1788,  he  became  an  itinerant,  and  was  appointed 
to  the  Calvert  Circuit,  in  Maryland.  The  three 
following  years  he  traveled  in  Virginia,  on  the 
Gloucester,  Lancaster,  and  Berkeley  Circuits.  In 
1792,  he  had  charge  of  the  Pittsburgh  Circuit,  in  the 
bounds  of  which  he  held  his  famous  debate  with 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Jamieson,  a  Scotch  Seceder  clergy- 
man— his  denomination  being  prevalent  in  that  com- 
munity.     The  points  involved  in  the  controversy 


IN    KENTUCKY.  233 

embraced  those  doctrines  upon  which  Calvinists 
and  Arminians  so  widely  difler.  Mr.  Cook  had 
ventured  into  the  bounds  of  the  congregation  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Porter,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  in  West- 
moreland county,  Pennsylvania,  and  preached  the 
doctrines  of  Free  Grace  and  Sanctification,  and 
compared  them  with  those  of  Unconditional  Elec- 
tion and  Reprobation.  Mr.  Porter,  regarding  him- 
self insulted,  and  his  rights  invaded,  addressed  a 
letter  to  the  Methodist  preacher,  in  which  he  in- 
formed him  that  he  "  wanted  none  of  his  friendly 
visits  or  help,"  and  ''charged  him  with  propa- 
gating false  doctrines  in  several  particulars."  Mr. 
Cook,  by  no  means  abashed,  replied,  vindicating 
the  truth  of  the  principles  he  held,  and  avowed  his 
purpose  to  impress  them  upon  the  minds  and  hearts 
of  the  people.  Several  communications  passed  be- 
tween them,  when  Mr.  Porter  was  informed  that  no 
farther  time  could  be  wasted  in  a  "  paper  contro- 
versy," but,  if  he  was  "  not  satisfied,  he  would  meet 
him  in  public,"  and  discuss  the  points  at  issue  be- 
tween them.  It  was  thought  by  the  friends  of  Mr. 
Porter  that  it  would  be  best  to  withdraw  him  from 
the  field,  and  to  substitute  in  his  place  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Jamieson.  Entering  the  lists  under  the  convic- 
tion that  an  easy  task  lay  before  him,  Mr.  Jamieson 
addressed  a  letter  to  Mr.  Cook,  in  which  he  in- 
formed him  that  he  had  spent  many  "  years  at  col- 
lege," had  "studied  theology"  and  "the  art  of 
logical  reasoning;  "  that  he  had  been  many  "years 
a  preacher  of  the  gospel ;  "  and  that  he  "  must  be," 
by  this  time,  "  deeply  imbedded  in  the  mire  of  Cal- 


234  METHODISM 

vinism  ; "  and  to  extricate  liim  from  which,  he  asked 
of  Mr.  Cook  his  favorable  assistance,  and  assured 
him  that  he  was  "ready  to  meet "  him.  Mr.  Cook, 
in  reply,  requested  Mr.  Jamieson  "to  appoint  the 
time  and  the  place"  for  the  debate,  and  asked 
him  to  make  the  appointment  before  he  "would 
leave  the  country,  and  cross  the  mountains  to  Con- 
ference," as  he  had  "  no  certainty  that "  he  shou-ld 
"return  again." 

The  time  was  appointed,  and  the  place  was 
promptly  fixed  at  Mr.  Porter's  church,  the  strong- 
hold of  Calvinism,  within  -^yq  miles  of  which, 
probably,  not  a  Methodist  family  resided.  The 
hour  was  nine  o'clock. 

Mr.  Cook,  accompanied  by  his  friend,  Mr.  Ban- 
ning, reached  the  place  before  the  hour  arrived,  and 
took  his  seat  in  the  woods.* 

Bishop  Roberts,  at  that  time  a  young  member  of 
the  Church,  resided  in  the  bounds  of  Mr.  Cook's 
circuit,  and  was  present  at  the  debate ;  and  to  him, 
as  detailed  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stevenson,  in  his  Bio- 
graphical Sketch  of  Valentine  Cook,  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  following  account  of  the  scene : 

"  On  reaching  the  ground,  he  found  that  ample 
preparations  had  been  made  for  the  accommodation 
of  all  concerned.  A  lofty  wooden  pulpit  had  been 
erected  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  forest,  and  sur- 
rounded with  a  vast  number  of  seats  for  the  conven- 
ience of  the  immense  concourse  that  was  evidently 

*  Contributions  to  the  Western  IliBtorical  Society,  by  A.  Banning, 
published  in  the  South-western  Cliristian  Advocate,  of  November 
7, 1840. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  235 

expected  on  the  occasion.  These  extensive  arrange- 
ments appeared  to  have  been  exclusively  prepared 
by  the  friends  and  votaries  of  the  old  Scotch  minis- 
ter. In  truth,  he  saw  no  one  who  appeared  to  be  at 
all  inclined  to  favor  Mr.  Cook,  or  his  cause.  As  the 
people  began  to  assemble,  he  occasionally  heard  the 
name  of  Qook  pronounced,  and  being  anxious  to 
know  all  that  was  going  on,  he  passed  round  from 
group  to  group,  and  heard  much  that  was  being 
said.  Here,  Cook  was  represented  as  a  mere  igno- 
ramus— that,  if  he  should  chance  to  appear  on  the 
ground,  there  would  be  but  little  of  him  or  his 

Methodism  left  by  the  time  Mr. had  done 

with  him.  Upon  the  whole,  it  was  perfectly  clear, 
from  all  that  he  could  see  and  hear,  that  a  great 
victory,  in  the  estimation  of  the  dominant  party, 
was  that  day  to  be  achieved  on  the  side  of  Calvin- 
ism. By  this  time  his  fears  had  become  so  aroused, 
he  was  strongly  inclined  to  wish  that  Mr.  Cook 
might  not  attend.  But  it  was  soon  announced  that 
the  Methodist  preacher  had  arrived.  He  found  him 
a  little  beyond  the  limits  of  the  congregation,  qui- 
etly seated  on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree.  But  two 
or  three  individuals  approached  him,  or  gave  him 
the  hand  of  friendship.  His  presence,  however, 
appeared  to  put  a  quietus  for  the  time  being  on  the 
rampant  spirit  of  the  opposition,  especially  as  their 
champion  had  not  yet  made  his  appearance.  At 
length  the  old  Scotchman  drove  up,  as  large  as 
life ;  nor  did  he  rein  up  his  noble  steed  until 
he  had  well-nigh  reached  the  center  of  the  crowd. 
He   was    a   well-set,   broad-shouldered,   venerable- 


236  METHODISM 

looking  man,  of  about  sixty.  His  features  were 
strongly  marked,  and  indicated  a  due  proportion 
of  iron  as  well  as  intellect.  When  interrogated 
by  one  of  his  friends  as  to  the  cause  of  his  delay, 
he  promptly  replied,  with  a  heavy  Scotch  brogue : 
*I'm  here  in  ample  time  to  gi'e  the  youngster  a 
dose  from  which  he  '11  not  soon  recover.'  The  par- 
ties had  never  seen  each  other,  and,  of  course,  had 
no  personal  acquaintance.  When  introduced,  as 
they  soon  were,  though  in  a  very  awkward  manner, 
Mr.  Cook  was  treated  with  marked  incivility  and 
rudeness. 

"  '  What ! '  said  the  old  Scotchman,  '  is  this  the 
young  mon  who  has  had  the  impertinance  to  assail 
the  doctrines  of  grace  ? ' 

"  '  No,  sir,'  w^as  the  prompt  reply  of  Mr.  Cook,  '  I 
have  never  assailed  the  doctrines  of  grace,  though 
I  have  entered  my  protest  to  the  prominent  peculi- 
arities of  the  Calvinistic  system,  believing,  as  I  do, 
that  they  cannot  be  sustained  by  the  word  of  God.' 

"An  effort  was  then  made  to  adjust  the  proposi- 
tions to  be  discussed,  as  well  as  rules  of  order  for 
the  debate ;  to  all  of  which,  however,  the  old 
Scotchman  peremptorily  demurred.  He  would 
agree  to  nothing  proposed  by  Mr.  Cook.  It  was 
his  purpose  to  occupy  the  stand  as  long  as  he  might 
think  proper;  and  then,  if  the  stripling  had  any 
thing  to  say,  he  might  say  on.  With  an  air  of  self- 
confidence  he  ascended  the  pulpit,  and,  without 
prayer,  explanation,  or  any  thing  of  the  sort,  he 
commenced  a  most  furious  attack  on  Mr.  Wesley 
and  Methodism  in  general.    He  soon  became  greatly 


IN    KENTUCKY.  237 

excited — raved,  stamped,  and  literally  foamed  at  the 
mouth.  B}^  the  time  he  entered  on  the  support  of 
Calvinism  properly  so  called,  his  voice  was  well- 
nigh  gone.  He,  however,  screwed  himself  up  as 
best  he  could,  and  held  on  for  a  considerable  length 
of  time,  relying  almost  exclusively  on  the  opinions 
of  distinguished  men  and  learned  bodies  of  ecclesi- 
astics for  the  support  of  the  prominent  features  of 
his  theology.  At  the  close  of  about  two  hours,  he 
brought  his  weak  and  very  exceptionable  remarks 
to  a  close,  and  sat  down  greatly  exhausted. 

"  Mr.  Cook  then  rose  in  the  pulpit,  and  after  a 
most  solemn  and  fervent  appeal  to  Almighty  God, 
for  wisdom  and  help  from  on  high,  to  maintain  and 
defend  the  truth,  he  commenced,  though  evidently 
laborins;  under  much  embarrassment.  His  hand 
trembled,  his  tongue  faltered,  and  at  times  it  was 
with  difficulty  he  could  articulate  with  sufficient 
clearness  to  be  heard  on  the  outskirts  of  the  assem- 
bly. He  first  took  up  in  order,  and  refuted  with 
great  power  and  effect,  the  allegations  that  had 
been  made  against  Wesley  and  Methodism.  By 
this  time  his  embarrassment  had  passed  off,  his 
voice  became  clear  and  distinct,  and,  withal,  there 
was  a  strange  sweetness  in  his  delivery,  that 
seemed  to  put  a  spell  on  the  whole  assembly.  He 
then  entered  his  solemn  protest  to  the  exception- 
able features  of  the  Calvinistic  theory.  He  opposed 
to  the  opinions  of  reputedly  great  and  learned  men, 
on  which  his  opponent  had  mainly  relied,  the  plain 
and  positive  teachings  of  Moses  and  the  prophets, 
of  Christ  and  his  apostles;  and  in  conclusion,  pre- 


238  METHODISM 

sented  an  outline  view  of  the  great  gospel  scheme 
of  human  salvation,  as  believed  and  taught  by  Wes- 
ley and  his  followers,  both  in  Europe  and  America ; 
not  in  its  theory  only,  but  in  its  experimental  and 
practical  bearings  on  the  present  and  future  destiny 
of  the  world.  At  an  early  period  in  his  discourse, 
the  venerable  champion  of  Geneva  rose  to  his  feet, 
and  exclaimed,  with  all  the  voice  he  had  left, 
^Wolf!  wolf!  wolf  in  sheep's  clothing!'  Mr. 
Cook,  however,  had  become  so  perfectly  self-pos- 
sessed, and  so  thoroughly  occupied  with  his  subject, 
that  this  excessive  rudeness  on  the  part  of  the  old 
Scotchman  had  no  effect  whatever  upon  him.  As 
he  advanced  in  the  discussion,  he  appeared  to  ac- 
quire additional  strength,  physical,  mental,  and  spir- 
itual. The  fixed  attention  of  the  vast  multitude 
seemed  to  inspire  him  with  new  powers  of  investi- 
gation, argument,  and  eloquence.  His  voice,  though 
soft  and  soothing,  rolled  on,  in  thunder-tones,  over 
the  vast  concourse,  and  echoed  far  away  in  the 
depths  of  the  forest ;  while  his  countenance  lighted 
up,  kindled,  and  glowed,  as  if  newly  commissioned 
from  on  high  to  proclaim  the  salvation  of  God  to  a 
perishing  race.  The  poor  old  Scotchman  could  en- 
dure it  no  longer ;  he  again  sprang  to  his  feet,  and 
bawded  out  at  the  top  of  his  shattered  voice:  'Fol- 
low me,  follow  me,  and  leave  the  babbler  to  him- 
self!' Only  some  two  or  three  obeyed  his  mandate. 
Mr.  Cook  was  engaged  in  too  important  a  work  to 
pay  the  slightest  attention  to  the  ravings  or  flight 
of  his  opponent,  lie  pressed  dircctl}^  forward  with 
his  argument,  dealing  out  at  every  step  the  most 


IN    KENTUCKY.  239 

startling  demonstrations  against  error  in  Christian 
faith  and  practice.  Long  before  the  mighty  effort 
was  brought  to  a  close,  the  whole  assembly  were  on 
their  feet,  all  eagerly  listening,  and  insensibly  press- 
ing toward  the  speaker.  Every  eye  was  fixed,  every 
ear  was  opened,  and  every  heart  was  tremblingly 
alive  to  the  importance  of  the  theme.  "When  Mr. 
Cook  took  his  seat,  all  faces  were  upturned,  and, 
for  the  most  part,  bathed  in  tears.  The  great  mul- 
titude stood  for  some  time  like  statues,  no  one  ap- 
pearing disposed  to  move,  utter  a  word,  or  leave  the 
place.  All  seemed  to  be  overwhelmed,  astonished, 
and  captivated.  "When  the  crowd  began  to  disperse, 
the  Bishop  said,  he  started  down  to  the  spring,  in 
company  with  many  others.  For  some  time  all  was 
as  silent  as  a  funeral  procession.  At  length  a  good- 
looking  old  gentleman  turned  to  his  companion, 
and  said:  'Did  you  ever  hear  such  a  man?' 
*;N'ever,'  was  the  prompt  reply.  A  free  conversa- 
tion ensued.  It  was  readily  admitted  that  he  must 
be  a  veiy  great  and  learned  man,  and  that  they  had 
never  wept  so  much  under  a  discourse  in  all  their 
lives  before.  It  was  perfectly  evident  that  they 
were  strongly  inclined  to  set  him  down  as  a  good  as 
well  as  a  great  man.  In  the  midst  of  their  conver- 
sation, another  elderly  gentleman — all  of  Scotch 
descent,  and  evidently  of  the  same  persuasion — 
spoke  up,  and  said,  with  a  good  deal  of  apparent 
excitement  and  solicitude :  *Sirs,  I  perceive  that  ye 
are  in  great  danger  of  being  led  captive  by  the 
de'il  at  his  will.  Ha'e  ye  never  reed  how  that  Satan 
can  transform  himsel'  into  an  angel  of  light,  that  he 


240  METHODISM 

may  deceive  the  very  elect,  if  it  were  possible  ?  I 
tell  ye,  sirs,  he's  a  dangerous  mon,  and  the  less  we 
ha'e  to  do  wi'  him  the  better  for  us  a'.'  Soon  after 
this,  young  Roberts  left  the  place,  and  returned  to 
his  father's,  greatly  delighted  with  the  result  of  the 
discussion. 

"It  is  well  known  to  those  who  are  acquainted 
with  the  early  history  of  Methodism  in  Western 
Pennsylvania,  that  this  controversy  was  the  means 
of  opening  to  her  ministry  a  *  great  and  effectual 
door'  of  usefulness.  From  that  day  forward  the 
Methodist  Church,  in  all  that  mountain  range  of 
country,  has  been  rapidly  advancing  in  numbers 
and  influence." 

The  result  of  this  discussion  w^as  not  only  a  tri- 
umph for  Methodism  in  the  vindication  of  its  great 
gospel  truths,  but  it  also  conferred  on  Mr.  Cook  a 
reputation  that  placed  him  by  the  side  of  the  ablest 
ministers  of  the  Church. 

The  following  year  we  find  him  among  the  moun- 
tains of  "Western  Virginia,  on  the  Clarksburg  Cir- 
cuit. In  1794,  his  appointment  is  to  the  District 
embracing  Bristol,  Chester,  Philadelphia,  Lancaster, 
!N"orthumberland,  and  Wyoming  Circuits,  lying  al- 
most entirely  in  Pennsylvania;  and  in  1795,  his 
District  comprises  the  ITorthumberland,  Wyoming, 
Tioga,  and  Seneca  Circuits.  In  1796  and  1797,  he 
leads  the  band  of  itinerants,  who,  amid  privations 
and  sacrifices,  traverse  the  mountains  over  which 
the  Clarksburg,  Ohio,  Redstone,  Pittsburgh,  and 
Greenfield  Circuits  spread.  A  faithful  messenger 
of  truth,  he  passed  through  his  District,  scattering 


IN    KENTUCKY.  241 

the  rays  of  Divine  light,  proclaiming  the  everlasting 
gospel,  encouraging  the  preachers  by  his  untiring 
zeal,  and  everywhere  calling  the  people  to  repent- 
ance. In  1798,  he  came  to  Kentucky,  and,  as  the 
successor  to  Johu  Kohler,  was  placed  in  charge  of 
the  District,  as  Presiding  Elder.  His  immense  la- 
bors had  broken  dow^n  his  health,  and  at  the  Con- 
ference of  1800,  he  located.  "  Such,  however, 
were  his  extraordinary  endowments,  mental,  moral, 
and  evangelical — such  the  strength  of  his  faith,  the 
fervency  of  his  zeal,  and  the  efficiency  of  his  minis- 
try— that  no  seclusion  of  place  or  obscurity  of  posi- 
tion could  prevent  the  Church  or  the  world  from 
recognizing  him  as  a  great  and  good  man,  as  well 
as  an  able,  laborious,  and  eminently  successful  min- 
ister of  the  cross  of  Christ."  * 

The  Bethel  Academy,  to  which  we  alluded  in  a 
former  chapter,  was  still  in  an  unfinished  state.  It 
was  the  second  institution  of  learning  established 
by  the  Methodist  Church  in  America.f 

The  educational  advantages  of  Valentine  Cook — 
his  great  popularity  in  the  pulpit,  as  well  as  adapt- 
edness  to  such  a  position — pointed  him  out  as  well 
qualified  to  take  charge  of  this  academy.  He, 
however,  remained  at  Bethel  but  a  few  years.  He 
subsequently  took  charge  of  an  academy  at  Har- 
rodsburg,  and  finally  removed  to  Logan  county, 
three  miles  north  of  Russellville,  w4iere  he  resided 
until  his  death. 


*  Sketch  of  Valentine  Cook,  by  Dr.  Stevenson,  p.  10. 
f  Cokesbury  College  was  the  first. 


242  METHODISM 

In  1798,  "  he  was  married  to  Miss  Tabitlia  Slaugh- 
ter, the  niece  of  the  ex-Governor  of  that  name." 
In  his  local  sphere,  he  made  "good  proof  of  his 
ministry."  Regarding  Methodism  as  perfectly  da- 
guerreotyped  in  the  Holy  Bible,  to  defend  its  doc- 
trines, to  enforce  its  precepts,  and  proclaim  its 
truths,  was  the  most  fondly  cherished  wish  of  his 
heart.  As  an  able  champion  placed  for  the  defense 
"of  the  faith,"  Kentucky  will  always  hold  him  in 
admiration  and  reverence.  The  controversies  in 
which  he  engaged,  and  their  successful  termination 
in  behalf  of  the  Church  of  which  he  was  so  able  a 
minister,  would,  by  tradition,  transmit  his  name  to 
future  generations,  though  no  sketch  of  him  had 
ever  been  written.  But  while  his  controversial 
powers  were  of  the  highest  order,  the  great  theme 
on  which  he  loved  to  dwell  was  experimental  religion. 
iNTot  only  in  the  pulpit,  but  in  the  social  circle — 
where  the  urbanity  of  his  manners,  and  his  bright 
Christian  example,  made  him  a  welcome  guest — he 
always  turned  the  conversation  on  the  subject  of 
religion.     He  was  truly  a  man  of  deep  piety. 

During  the  winter  of  1811-12,  Kentucky  was  vis- 
ited by  a  succession  of  earthquakes,  that  produced 
great  alarm  among  the  people.  The  most  violent 
concussion  was  felt  on  a  certain  dark  night,  at  an 
untimely  hour,  when  men  were  wrapped  in  slum- 
ber. It  was  enough  to  make  the  stoutest  heart 
tremble.  Brother  Cook,  suddenly  roused  from 
sleep,  made  for  the  door,  exclaiming,  "I  believe 
Jesus  is  coming." 

Ilis  wife  was  alarmed,  and  said,  "Will  you  wait 


IN    KENTUCKY.  243 

for  me  ? "  Said  he,  "  If  my  Jesus  is  coming,  I  will 
wait  for  nobody  !  "  * 

The  same  writer  says  : 

'*My  personal  acquaintance  with  Brother  Cook 
commenced  in  his  own  house,  near  Kussellville, 
Kentucky,  in  the  summer  of  1815,  and  was  renewed 
when  I  became  a  member  of  the  Kentucky  Confer- 
ence, by  transfer,  in  1821.  From  that  time  till  his 
death,  my  fields  of  labor  being  somewhat  contigu- 
ous to  his  residence,  I  saw  something  of  his  move- 
ments, and  heard  much  more.  He  was  then  an  old 
man,  and  honored  as  a  father  in  the  Church,  but 
still  possessed  of  strong  physical  and  mental  pow- 
ers. His  aid  was  anxiously  sought  after  on  all 
important  occasions  in  the  west  part  of  the  State ; 
and  wherever  he  appeared  in  a  religious  assembly, 
he  was  hailed  as  a  harbinger  of  mercy.  "Whole' 
multitudes  of  people,  on  popular  occasions,  were 
moved  by  the  Spirit  of  grace,  under  his  preaching, 
as  the  trees  of  the  forest  were  moved  by  the  winds 
of  heaven.  His  last  public  effort,  as  I  was  informed 
by  those  who  were  present,  made  at  Yellow  Creek 
camp-meeting,  in  Dixon  county,  Tennessee,  was  a 
signal  triumph.  While  preaching  on  the  Sabbath, 
such  a  power  came  down  on  the  people,  and  pro- 
duced such  an  excitement,  that  he  was  obliged  to 
desist  till  order  was  partially  restored.  Shortly 
after  he  resumed  speaking,  he  was  stopped  from 
the  same  cause.  A  third  attempt  produced  the 
same  result.     He  then  sat  down  amidst  a  glorious 

*  Morris's  Miscellany,  pp.  175,  176. 


244  METHODISM 

shower  of  grace,  and  wept,  saying,  *If  the  Lord 
sends  rain,  we  will  stop  the  plow,  and  let  it  rain.'  "  * 
Impressed  with  the  belief  that  his  work  was  well- 
nigh  done,  in  the  autumn  of  1819,  he  consummated 
a  fondly  cherished  desire  of  his  heart,  in  visiting 
his  old  friends  in  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Vir- 
ginia. He  "  felt  a  wish  to  kneel  by  the  graves  of 
his  departed  parents,  and  to  take  a  last  look,  as  well 
as  a  last  leave,  of  the  memorable  spot  where  first 
the  light  of  Heaven  broke  upon  his  soul."  In  his 
route,  he  passed  through  Lexington,  Kentucky, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  preached  "the  unsearchable  riches  of 
Christ."  He  then  proceeded  to  Philadelphia,  ISTew 
York,  and  Baltimore,  where  "vast  crowds  of 
people  flocked  to  hear  him,"  and  "  scores  and  hun- 
dreds were  awakened  and  converted  to  God  through 
his  instrumentality."  Returning  home,  he  passed 
through  the  Greenbrier  country,  seeing  "many  of 
his  relatives  and  early  friends ; "  looking  upon  "  the 
scenes  of  his  childhood,"  and  kneeling  "at  the 
spot "  where  slept  the  dust  of  his  parents.  Then, 
bidding  adieu  to  his  friends,  he  wended  his  way  to 
his  own  home,  from  which  he  had  been  absent  for 
several  weeks.  Passing  around  his  little  farm,  the 
w^ell-known  sound  of  his  sweetly  toned  voice  was 
heard,  as  he  sang : 

"  Salvation,  0  the  joyful  sound  ! 
'Tis  pleasure  to  our  ears: 
A  sov'reign  balm  for  every  wound, 
A  cordial  for  our  fears." 

*  Morris's  Miscellany,  p.  177. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  245 

His  whole  tour  through  the  East  resembled  the 
triumph  of  a  conqueror.  Wherever  he  went,  he 
says,  "the  power  of  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  was 
with  me."  Thousands  hung  in  breathless  silence 
around  him,  and  caught  the  words  of  mercy  as  they 
warmly  fell  from  his  burning  lips.  Contemplating 
death,  he  says:  "My  labors  in  the  ministry  are 
drawing  to  a  close.  I  shall  soon  have  performed 
my  last  day's  work  on  earth.  Thank  God,  I  am 
ready,  all  ready,  through  his  abundant  mercy  and 
grace,  to  depart  and.  be  with  Christ !  "  * 

In  less  than  a  year  after  he  returned  from  this 
tour,  he  was  dead. 

"A  short  time  previous  to  his  death,  he  attended 
a  camp-meeting,  some  eight  or  ten  miles  from 
home.  As  usual,  he  labored  with  great  zeal  and 
success.  He  preached  on  the  Sabbath  to  a  vast 
crowd,  from  these  words  :  ^  For  our  light  affliction, 
which  is  but  for  a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far 
more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory.' — 2 
Corinthians  iv.  17.  After  a  solemn  and  very  im- 
pressive pause,  he  lifted  his  eyes  to  heaven,  and 
said  :  '  What !  our  afflictions  work  for  us  a  weight  of 
glory! — a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  iveight  of 
glory  ! '  and  added,  '  I  believe  it  with  all  my  heart, 
because  thou,  0  God,  hast  revealed  it  in  this  blessed 
volume.'  The  eftect  upon  the  congregation  is  said 
to  have  been  very  remarkable,  and  the  discourse 
throughout  has  been  represented  as  among  the  most 
able  and  eiFective  that  he  ever  delivered.     This  was 

*Dr.  Stevenson. 


246  METHODISM 

tlie  last  sermon  lie  preached,  as  I  was  informed  by 
his  weeping  widow,  a  few  months  after  his  death. 

"  On  his  return  home  from  this  meeting:,  he  was 
violently  attacked  with  bilious  fever.  His  case,  from 
the  first,  was  considered  doubtful,  and  finally  hope- 
less. Conscious  of  his  approaching  dissolution,  he 
called  his  wife  and  children  to  his  bedside,  and, 
after  taking  a  last  earthly  leave  of  his  family,  he 
committed  them,  with  many  expressions  of  confi- 
dence, to  the  guidance  and  protection  of  Almighty 
Goodness.  When  asked  by  one  of  his  neighbors, 
a  few  moments  before  his  death,  how  he  felt,  he 
answered,  *I  scarcely  know,'  and  then  added, 
*When  I  think  of  Jesus,  and  of  living  with  him 
for  ever,  I  am  so  filled  with  the  love  of  God,  that  I 
scarcely  know  whether  I  am  in  the  body  or  out  of 
the  body.'  These  were  the  last  words  that  ever  fell 
from  his  lips.  He  died  as  he  had  lived,  'strong 
in  faith,  giving  glory  to  God.'  "  "^ 

The  year  1798  was  distinguished  for  the  introduc- 
tion of  Methodism  into  that  portion  of  the  ITorth- 
western  Territory  now  known  as  the  State  of  Ohio. 
Kentucky  was  already  the  great  center  of  Meth- 
odism in  the  West.  The  rapid  tide  of  emigration 
to  the  vast  fields  beyond  the  Ohio,  not  only  from 
Kentucky,  but  also  from  other  States,  very  properly 
invited  the  attention  of  Bishop  Asbury  to  the  im- 
portance of  sending  a  missionary  to  them,  and  John 
Kobler  was  selected  for  that  enterprising  yet  ardu- 
ous field. 

■^'Sketch  of  Cook,  hy  Dr.  Stevenson,  pp.  75,  76, 


IN     KENTUCKY.  247 

Francis  McCormack,  a  local  preacher  of  piety  and 
zeal,  who  immigrated  to  Kentucky  in  1795,  and  set- 
tled in  Bourhon  county,  not  pleased  with  the  State, 
had  preceded  Mr.  Kobler  to  the  North-western  Ter- 
ritory, and  settled  "  on  the  Little  Miami,  near  where 
Milford  now  stands."  Up  to  the  time  of  the  en- 
trance of  Mr.  Kobler  on  this  missionary  field,  "  no 
sound  of  the  everlasting  gospel  had  as  yet  broken 
upon  their  ears ;  no  house  of  worship  was  erected 
wherein  Jehovah's  name  was  recorded;  no  joining 
the  assembly  of  the  saints,  or  those  who  keep  the 
holy-day;  but  the  whole  might  with  strict  propriety 
be  called  a  land  of  darkness  and  the  shadow  of 
death."* 

Mr.  Kobler  "  spread  the  first  table  for  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  Supper  that  was  spread  north- 
west of  the  Ohio,"  when  only  "twenty-five  or 
thirty — the  sum  total  of  all  that  were  in  the  coun- 
try " — communed. 

At  the  following  Conference,  he  reported  the 
Miami  Circuit  with  ninety-eight  white  members  and 
one  colored — and  to  which  Henry  Smith  was  ap- 
pointed the  succeeding  year. 

At  the  close  of  this  year,  we  have  the  pleasure  to 
report  an  increase  of  thirty-seven  members,  which, 
though  small,  indicates  that  the  downward  tendency 
is  checked. 


■^Finley's  Sketches  of  "Western  Methodism,  p.  170. 


248  METHODISM 


CHAPTER    X. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1799  TO  THE  CONFERENCE 
HELD  IN  APRIL,  1800. 

The  Conference  held  at  Bethel  Academy — Daniel  Gossage — Farther 
increase  in  membership — The  decline  in  membership  between  the 
years  1792  and  1800,  and  the  causes — Emigration  from  the  State — 
The  0' Kelly  schism — Legislation  on  the  subject  of  slavery — Prev- 
alent infidelity — Erroneous  Doctrines — John  and  William  McGee — 
The  great  revival — Red  River  Church — Muddy  River — The  Ridge 
meeting — Desha's  Creek — Letter  from  the  Rev.  John  McGee. 

The  Conference  of  1799  was  held  on  the  1st  day 
of  May,  at  Bethel  Academy.  In  reference  to  the 
session  we  have  but  little  information,  except  such 
as  we  find  in  the  General  Minutes. 

The  name  of  Daniel  Gossage  is  the  only  one  in 
the  list  of  Appointments  in  Kentucky,  of  whom 
previous  mention  had  not  been  made.  He,  how- 
ever, only  entered  the  Conference  this  year,  and  was 
appointed,  with  Thomas  Allen,  to  the  Salt  River 
and  Shelby  Circuit.  At  the  next  Conference  his 
name  disappears  from  the  roll,  and  all  trace  of  him 
is  lost. 

At  the  close  of  this  year,  we  have  the  pleasure 
of  reporting  again  an  increase  of  members,  amount- 
ing to  one  hundred  and  three — an  improvement  on  the 
report  of  the  previous  year. 

It  is  a  pleasant  task  to  trace  the  history  of  the 


IN    KENTUCKY.  249 

Church  amid  scenes  of  revival,  when  the  achieve- 
ments of  Christianity,  "like  the  rushing  of  a 
mighty  wind,"  arrest  the  attention  of  entire  com- 
munities; or  when,  in  its  more  gentle  influence,  it 
gradually  adds  to  the  number  of  its  conquests  from 
the  ranks  of  sin.  But  when,  in  the  midst  of  tire- 
less efforts  on  the  part  of  chosen  instruments,  we 
discover  any  decay  of  its  power,  or  any  diminution 
of  its  sway,  it  is  proper  that  we  pause  to  inquire 
into  the  causes  by  which  its  prosperity  has  been 
impaired. 

Between  the  years  1792  and  1800,  the  men  who 
occupied  the  field  in  the  West,  if  equaled,  have  not 
been  surpassed,  for  their  zeal,  their  abundant  labors, 
and  their  self-sacrificing  spirit,  in  an^^  age  of  the 
Church ;  yet,  during  this  period,  while  the  State  of 
Kentucky  increased  in  population  from  less  than 
one  hundred  thousand  to  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
four  thousand  three  hundred  and  three,  includino; 
whites  and  colored,  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
decreased  in  membership  from  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  eight  to  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
forty-one. 

Why  this  result  ?  It  certainly  cannot  be  ascribed 
to  any  want  of  fidelity  to  the  Church  on  the  part  of 
the  preachers  of  that  period ;  nor  can  it  be  traced 
to  any  defect  in  the  doctrines  they  preached — for 
these,  if  not  found  in  the  Confessions  of  Faith  of 
other  evangelical  Churches,  have  met  with  almost 
universal  adoption  by  the  orthodox  pulpit. 

The  Kev.  D.  R.  Mc Anally,  in  his  "Life  and 
Times  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Patton,"  in  referring  to 


250  METHODISM 

the  Conference  for  1800,  says :  "The  settlements  in 
Kentucky  were  rapidlj^  enlarging  and  being  filled 
up,  and  all  the  Western  preachers  that  could  be 
spared  were  taken  for  that  work  ;  so  that  onlj^  three 
were  left  for  all  the  Holston  country.  'New  Elver, 
Ilolston,  and  E-ussell  Circuits  were  united,  under 
the  care  of  John  Watson  and  John  Page,  while 
James  Hunter  was  sent  to  Green.  One  preacher 
only  (William  Lambeth)  was  all  that  could  be,  or 
that  was,  afforded  to  the  Cumberland  or  West  Ten- 
nessee country,  while  there  were  seven  in  Kentucky. 
Regarding  the  facts  connected  with  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  Church  in  these  different  sections,  and 
seeing  the  manifest  advantages  given  to  the  Ken- 
tucky settlements,  the  reader  would  naturally  expect 
to  find  Methodism  there  greatly  in  advance  of  what 
it  was  in  the  other  sections.  And  this  was  the  case 
for  many  years ;  but  the  precedence  thus  gained 
was  not  well  sustained,  and  in  process  of  time,  the 
others  not  only  overtook,  but,  in  many  important 
respects,  outstripped  their  early  favored  sister.  A 
close  inquiry  into  the  reason  of  this,  prosecuted 
with  a  cool,  philosophic  pen,  could  reveal  facts,  and 
the  operation  of  principles,  important  to  Metho- 
dists everywhere,  and  through  all  time." 

We  may  not  be  able  to  discover  the  partiality 
shown  to  Kentucky,  to  which  allusion  is  made  in 
the  extract  we  have  quoted.  We  have  always  ac- 
cepted the  opinion  that  the  comparative  wants  of 
the  work  in  each  Episcopal  District  were  duly  con- 
sidered by  those  who  had  the  oversight,  and  that 
the  best  distribution  was  made  of  the  talents  and 


IN    KENTUCKY.  251 

laborers  to  be  employed ;  nor  does  it  belong  to  our 
purpose  to  institute  comparisons  between  the  Church 
in  Kentucky  and  any  other  portion  of  our  priceless 
heritage.  We  rejoice  in  the  success  of  Methodism 
anywhere.  It  is  our  common  inheritance ;  and 
in  Holston,  Tennessee,  and  Kentucky,  it  claims, 
under  God,  a  common  parentage,  and  has  been  be- 
queathed to  us  by  the  same  noble  men.  The  names 
of  Haw,  Ogden,  Poythress,  McHenry,  Burke,  Page, 
Wilkerson,  Ward,  Ray,  Kobler,  and  others,  are 
equally  dear  to  them  and  to  us  ;  and  if,  in  the  Hol- 
ston Conference,  Methodism  has  met  with  fewer 
antagonisms  than  in  Kentucky,  and  been  more  suc- 
cessful, it  shall  be  our  glory  and  joy. 

The  decrease  in  the  membership,  to  which  we 
have  referred,  cannot  be  justly  attributed  to  any 
single  cause,  but  to  a  combination  of  causes.  The 
generally  received  opinion,  that  the  decrease  during 
this  period  may  be  traced  to  the  emigration  from 
the  State,  is  not  sustained  by  the  facts.  Between 
the  years  1792  and  1795,  we  had  no  material  in- 
crease in  membership ;  and  yet,  during  this  pe- 
riod, we  had  no  emigration  from  Kentucky.  The 
expedition  of  Gen.  Wayne  into  the  Indian  country 
was  not  made  until  the  summer  of  1794,  nor  was 
the  treaty  of  peace  made  until  the  following  year ; 
and  hence  the  North-western  Territory  was  not 
opened  to  emigration  previous  to  that  date.  What- 
ever influence  emigration  from  the  State  may  have 
exerted  on  the  welfare  and  numerical  strength  of 
the  Church,  subsequent  to  1795 — and  we  readily 
concede  that,  between  that  year  and  1800,  as  well 


252  METHODISM 

as  at  later  periods,  it  was  sufficient,  in  the  midst  of 
extensive  revivals  of  religion,  to  produce  a  declen- 
sion of  numbers — certainly  the  apparent  want  of 
success,  while  largely  indebted  to  this  cause,  cannot 
be  confined  to  it.  "We  also  readily  admit  that,  before 
the  close  of  the  past  century,  in  some  places,  large 
societies  were  entirely  broken  up,  and  in  others, 
only  portions  were  left,  by  removals  from  the  State. 
"We  have  already  seen  large  bodies  of  Methodists 
from  Kentucky  settled  in  what  is  now  the  State  of 
Ohio,  in  the  Mad  River  country,  "and  also  on  the 
Big  and  Little  Miamis;"*  so  that,  notwithstand- 
ing the  success  that  crowned  the  labors  of  the 
preachers,  and  the  hundreds  that  were  brought  to 
the  saving  knowledge  of  the  truth,  through  their 
instrumentality,  yet,  in  their  annual  exhibits,  they 
often  showed  a  decrease  of  membership  in  their 
respective  fields  of  labor. 

In  Marion  county,  in  the  neighborhood  known  as 
Thomas's  Meeting-house,  w^e  had  one  of  the  most 
flourishing  societies  in  the  State.  The  land  around 
it  was  fertile,  and  many  influential  families  from 
Virginia  had  settled  in  the  vicinity,  and  became 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

From  a  letter  we  received  from  the  Hon.  Charles 
A.  Wickliflfe,  we  learn  that,  "about  the  year  1800, 
a  considerable  emigration  of  Eoman  Catholics  from 
Maryland  came  into  this  neighborhood,  and  bought 
out  the  residences  of  many  members  of  the  Church, 
who  sought  homes  in  other  portions  of  the  State, 

*  Methodist  Magazine,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  311. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  253 

and  in  Indiana."  B}^  this  means,  a  large  extent  of 
territory,  where  Methodism  had  been  fostered  and 
flourished,  passed  from  our  hands ;  and,  at  the 
present  date,  is  one  of  the  strongholds  of  Koman 
Catholicism ;  while  Protestant  Christianity,  in  any 
of  its  forms,  though  favored  with  a  ministry  distin- 
guished for  their  zeal  and  devotion,  and  a  member- 
ship, though  small,  yet  influential,  has  found  it 
difficult,  in  the  same  community,  to  do  more  than 
maintain  a  feeble  existence. 

To  the  Church  in  Kentucky  it  was  a  source  of 
unspeakable  pleasure,  that,  while  their  societies  at 
home  were  being  thus  depleted,  they  were  sending 
forth  into  the  vast  field  beyond  the  Ohio  hundreds 
from  their  Communion,  by  whom  Methodism  would 
be  planted,  and  beneath  w^hose  fostering  care  it 
would  flourish,  and  put  forth  "its  leaves  for  the 
healing  of  the  nations." 

Another  cause  of  the  decrease  in  our  membership 
during  this  period,  is  to  be  found  in  the  influence 
exerted  by  Mr.  O'Kell}^  "While  the  injurious  eflects 
of  the  step  that  he  had  so  unfortunately  taken,  for 
a  while  arrested  the  prosperity  of  the  Church  in 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  the  evil  that  he 
wrought  was  not  confined  to  these  sections,  in 
which  he  had  previously  attained  such  popularity 
as  an  evangelist :  its  pernicious  results  reached  the 
farthest  limits  of  the  Church  in  America,  immedi- 
ately following  his  secession.  For  several  years,  a 
decrease  in  the  aggregate  membership  is  reported 
in  the  General  Minutes.  In  1795,  when  his  power 
was  at  its  height,  and  he  was  spreading  desolation 


254  METHODISM 

throughout  the  Church,  the  decrease  reached  six 
thousand  three  himdred  and  seventeen — which  was 
more  than  one-tenth  the  entire  membership  of  the 
Church.  Kentucky  had  chiefly  been  settled  by  em- 
igrants from  Virginia,  and  the  infant  Church  in  the 
"West  became  involved  in  the  controversy.  Some 
of  the  prominent  preachers  were  beguiled  by  its 
teachings.  "We  have  already  seen  James  Haw — 
one  of  the  first  two  missionaries — embracing  the 
views  of  Mr.  O'Kelly,  and  carrying  with  him  almost 
the  entire  corps  of  preachers,  and  many  of  the 
members  in  the  Cumberland  Circuit,  which  lay 
partly  in  Kentucky.  The  infection  reached  the 
central  and  northern  portions  of  the  State,  and 
threw  many  of  the  societies  into  confusion  and 
strife. 

Whatever  may  be  the  beneficial  results  of  reli- 
gious controversy,  when  it  involves  the  vindica- 
tion of  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  certainly  no 
good  can  follow  from  a  discussion  between  religion- 
ists who  accept  the  same  great  axioms  of  Bible 
truth,  and  difier  only  upon  questions  of  minor  im- 
portance. In  controversies  of  this  kind,  the  pas- 
sions are  much  more  likely  to  become  inflamed 
than  where  the  issue  is  in  reference  to  great  evan- 
gelical questions.  The  strife  in  which  many  of  the 
societies  became  involved  very  naturally  produced 
ill-feeling,  and  turned  away  from  our  Communion 
hundreds  who  had  been  blessed  by  the  teachings 
of  our  fathers. 

There  is  still,  however,  another  cause  for  our 
want  of  success  during  this  period :  the  legislation 


IN    KENTUCKY.  255 

of  the  Church  on  the  subject  of  slavery.  Previous  to 
the  Christmas  Conference — at  which  time  the 
"Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  America"  was 
organized — the  Annual  Conferences  had  enacted 
laws  on  this  question.  At  the  Conference  of  1780 — 
realizing  the  delicacy  of  the  subject — we  find  an 
expression  of  "disapprobation  on  all"  Methodists 
who  held  slaves,  and  "  their  freedom  "  advised.  In 
the  Conference  of  1783 — emboldened  by  their  for- 
mer step — the  question  is  asked:  "What  shall  be 
done  with  our  local  preachers  who  hold  slaves,  con- 
trary to  the  laws  which  authorize  their  freedom,  in 
any  of  the  United  States  ?  "  The  answer  is :  "We 
will  try  them  another  year.  In  the  meantime,  let 
every  assistant  deal  faithfully  and  plainly  with 
every  one,  and  report  to  the  next  Conference.  It 
may  then  be  necessary  to  suspend  them."  The  ac- 
tion of  the  Conference  of  1783  produced  some  dis- 
turbance in  the  State  of  Virginia,  and  at  the  Con- 
ference of  1784,  while  a  more  rigid  discipline  was 
adopted  for  the  laity,  final  action  was  suspended  for 
another  year  against  the  preachers  in  Virginia ;  and 
at  the  same  time,  more  stringent  measures  were  to 
be  enforced  against  our  local  brethren  in  Maryland, 
Delaware,  Pennsylvania,  and  'New  Jersey.  The 
traveling  preachers,  also,  who  might  own  slaves, 
were  to  be  suspended. 

The  enactments  of  this  Conference  are : 
^'Question  12.  What  shall  we  do  with  our  friends 
that  will  buy  and  sell  slaves  ? 

^'Answer.  If  they  bu}^  with  no  other  design  than 
to  hold  them  as  slaves,  and  have  been  previously 


256  METHODISM 

warned,  they  shall  be  expelled,  and  permitted  to 
sell  on  no  consideration. 

'''Question  13.  "What  shall  we  do  with  our  local 
preachers  who  will  not  emancipate  their  slaves  in 
the  States  where  the  laws  admit  it? 

''Answer.  Try  those  in  Virginia  another  year,  and 
suspend  the  preachers  in  Maryland,  Delaware, 
Pennsylvania,  and  I^ew  Jersey. 

"Question  22.  What  shall  be  done  with  our  travel- 
ing preachers  that  now  are,  or  hereafter  shall  be, 
possessed  of  slaves,  and  refuse  to  manumit  where 
the  law  permits  ? 

"Answer.  Employ  them  no  more." 

These  several  actions  were  previous  to  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Church. 

At  the  Christmas  Conference,  held  in  the  city  of 
Baltimore — at  which  the  "  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  America"  was  organized — in  answer  to 
the  question,  "What  methods  can  we  take  to  ex- 
tirpate slavery?"  we  have  the  following: 

"Question  42.  What  methods  can  we  take  to  ex- 
tirpate slavery  ? 

"Answer.  We  are  deeply  conscious  of  the  impro- 
priety of  making  new  terms  of  communion  for  a  re- 
ligious society  already  established,  excepting  on  the 
most  pressing  occasion ;  and  such  we  esteem  the 
practice  of  holding  our  fellow-creatures  in  slavery. 
We  view  it  as  contrary  to  the  golden  law  of  God,  on 
which  hang  all  the  law  and  the  prophets,  and  the 
unalienable  rights  of  mankind,  as  well  as  every 
principle  of  the  revolution,  to  hold  in  the  deepest 
debasement,  in  a  more  abject  slavery  than  is  per- 


IN    KENTUCKY.  257 

haps  to  be  found  in  any  part  of  the  world  except 
America,  so  many  souls  that  are  all  capable  of  the 
image  of  God. 

"We  therefore  think  it  our  most  bounden  duty 
to  take  immediately  some  effectual  method  to  extir- 
pate this  abomination  from  among  us  ;  and  for  that 
purpose  we  add  the  following  to  the  rules  of  our 
society,  viz. : 

"  1.  Every  member  of  our  society  who  has  slaves 
in  his  possession,  shall,  within  twelve  months  after 
notice  given  to  him  by  the  assistant,  (which  notice 
the  assistants  are  required  immediately,  and  without 
any  delay,  to  give  in  their  respective  circuits,) 
legally  execute  and  record  an  instrument,  whereby 
he  emancipates  and  sets  free  every  slave  in  his  pos- 
session, who  is  between  the  ages  of  forty  and  forty- 
five,  immediately,  or  at  farthest  when  they  arrive  at 
the  age  of  forty-five. 

"And  every  slave  who  is  between  the  ages  of 
twenty-five  and  forty  immediately,  or  at  farthest 
at  the  expiration  of  five  years  from  the  date  of  the 
said  instrument. 

"And  every  slave  who  is  between  the  ages  of 
twenty  and  twenty-five  immediately,  or  at  farthest 
when  they  arrive  at  the  age  of  thirty. 

"And  every  slave  under  the  age  of  twenty,  as 
soon  as  they  arrive  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  at 
farthest. 

"And  every  infant  born  in  slavery  after  the 
above-mentioned  rules  are  complied  with,  immedi- 
ately on  its  birth. 

"  2.  Every  assistant  shall  keep  a  journal,  in  which 

VOL.  I. — 9 


258  METHODISM 

he  shall  regularly  minute  down  the  names  and  ages 
of  all  the  slaves  belonging  to  all  the  masters  in  his 
respective  circuit,  and  also  the  date  of  every  instru- 
ment executed  and  recorded  for  the  manumission 
of  the  slaves,  with  the  name  of  the  court,  book, 
and  folio,  in  which  the  said  instruments  respectively 
shall  have  been  recorded ;  which  journal  shall  be 
handed  down  in  each  circuit  to  the  succeeding 
assistants. 

"3.  In  consideration  that  these  rules  form  a  new 
term  of  communion,  every  person  concerned,  who 
will  not  comply  with  them,  shall  have  liberty  qui- 
etly to  withdraw  himself  from  our  society  within 
the  twelve  months  succeeding  the  notice  given  as 
aforesaid ;  otherwise  the  assistant  shall  exclude  him 
in  the  society. 

"4.  'No  person  so  voluntarily  withdrawn,  or  so 
excluded,  shall  ever  partake  of  the  Supper  of  the 
Lord  with  the  Methodists,  till  he  complies  with  the 
above  requisitions. 

"  5.  No  person  holding  slaves  shall,  in  future,  be 
admitted  into  society  or  to  the  Lord's  Supper,  till 
he  previously  complies  with  these  rules  concerning 
slavery. 

"iV.  B.  These  rules  are  to  affect  the  members  of 
our  society  no  farther  than  as  they  are  consistent 
with  the  laws  of  the  States  in  which  they  reside. 

"And  respecting  our  brethren  in  Virginia  that 
are  concerned,  and  after  due  consideration  of  their 
peculiar  circumstances,  we  allow  them  two  years 
from  the  notice  given,  to  consider  the  expedience 
of  compliance  or  non-compliance  with  these  rules. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  259 

'^  Question  43.  What  shall  be  done  with  those  who 
buy  or  sell  slaves,  or  give  them  away  ? 

^'Answer,  They  are  immediately  to  be  expelled, 
unless  they  buy  them  on  purpose  to  free  them."  * 

"At  the  Annual  Conferences  for  1785,  it  was 
concluded  that  the  rule  on  slavery,  adopted  at 
the  Christmas  Conference,  would  do  harm.  It 
was  therefore  resolved  to  suspend  its  execution 
for  the  present,  and  a  note  to  that  effect  was 
added  to  the  Annual  Minutes  for  that  year.  The 
Conferences,  however,  still  expressed  the  deepest 
abhorrence  of  the  practice,  and  a  determination 
to  seek  its   destruction   by  all  wise   and   prudent 

means."  t 

It  is  not  our  purpose,  in  this  place,  to  discuss  this 
question.  We  only  desire  to  show  that  it  retarded 
the  progress  of  the  Church  at  this  early  period. 
The  climate  of  Kentucky,  as  well  as  the  fertility  of 
the  soil,  not  only  invited  immigration  after  the  ces- 
sation of  Indian  hostilities,  but  also  previous  to  this 
pei^iod,  when  even  life  and  safety  were  in  constant 
peril  from  the  tomahawk  and  the  stake,  the  dangers 
of  the  journey  were  braved,  and  settlements  formed 
throughout  the  northern  and  central  portions  of 
the  District.  We  have  already  said  that  "it  was 
not  the  dull,  the  unambitious,  the  idle,"  who  came 
first  to  Kentucky.  The  early  settlers  were,  in  the 
main,  fair  representatives  of  the  communities  in 
which  they  had  resided,  with  the  exception,  that 
only  those  who  possessed  bold   and   adventurous 


*  Emory's  History  of  the  Discipline,  pp.  43, 44.        f  Ibid.,  p.  80. 


260  METHODISM 

spirits  dared  to  remove  to  a  country  not  yet 
given  up  by  the  Indians.  The  District  of  Ken- 
tucky having  originally  been  a  part  of  Virginia, 
that  State  was  more  largely  represented  upon  its 
soil  than  any  other.  Entering  the  Confederacy  as 
a  slave  State  in  1792,  many  families  of  wealth  and 
influence,  who  were  slave-holders  in  Virginia,  as 
well  as  other  States,  were  induced  to  seek  a  home 
within  its  rich  domain.  It  is  true,  the  action  of  the 
Christmas  Conference  upon  the  question  of  slavery 
was,  to  a  great  extent,  inoperative ;  nor  will  it  be 
denied,  that,  with  scarcely  an  exception,  the  preach- 
ers of  Kentucky  confined  themselves  to  their  legit- 
imate calling — the  preaching  of  the  gospel — so  that 
no  fault  could  be  found  with  their  conduct ;  yet,  in 
the  statute-book  of  the  Church,  prominently  stood 
the  declaration,  that  "  no  j^erson  holding  slaves  shall, 
in  future,  he  admitted  into  society  or  to  the  Lord's  Supper, 
till  he  'previously  complies  loiih  these  rules  concerning 
slavery.''  And  in  many  communities  this  law 
was  enforced.  In  the  Hartford  Circuit,  although 
organized  at  a  later  date,  the  records  of  their  Quar- 
terly Conferences,  from  1804  to  1825,  show  the  con- 
tinual agitation  of  the  question,  in  the  examination 
of  the  characters  of  official  members,  who,  by  any 
means,  had  become  connected  with  slavery — thereby 
producing  prejudice  in  the  entire  community  against 
the  Church. 

This  interference  of  the  Church  with  an  institu- 
tion purely  civil,  and,  by  consequence,  its  departure 
from  primitive  and  apostolic  Christianity,  was  too 
obvious  not  to  attract  the  attention  of  even  a  casual 


IN    KENTUCKY.  261 

observer.  Slavery,  in  the  early  ages  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  existed  in  the  Roman  Empire  in  the 
worst  imaginable  forms.  The  master  had  power 
over  the  life  of  his  slave ;  and  the  Church,  without 
interfering  with  the  relation,  only  defined  and  en- 
joined the  mutual  duties  and  obligations  resulting 
from  it. 

In  Kentucky,  while  many  families  of  high  social 
position,  in  view  of  the  inoperativeness  of  the  rule 
on  slavery,  connected  themselves  with  the  Meth- 
odist Church,  a  very  large  proportion,  among  the 
most  influential — while  admiring  the  zeal  of  its 
preachers,  the  simplicity  of  its  worship,  and  the 
truth  of  its  doctrines — sought  other  Communions ; 
so  that  many  of  our  forms  of  worship,  as  well  as 
the  doctrines  once  peculiar  to  Methodism,  and  that 
had  been  assailed  with  tireless  energy  by  sectarian 
bigots,  were  adopted  by  hundreds  and  thousands  in 
other  Christian  Communions,  while  they  turned 
away  from  the  Church  to  which  they  were  so  largely 
indebted. 

In  the  attacks  so  frequently  made  upon  Method- 
ism at  this  early  day,  it  was  by  no  means  uncom- 
mon for  our  opponents  to  charge  upon  our  preachers 
a  wish  to  interfere  with  the  civil  institutions  of  the 
State ;  from  which  allegation,  however  false,  there 
was  no  me^ms  of  escape,  since  they  were  the  repre- 
sentatives of  a  Church  that,  in  its  statute-book,  had 
placed  itself  in  antagonism  to  an  institution  which 
was  recognized  by  the  Confederated  Government  as 
right. 

In  addition  to  the  causes  we  have  already  as- 


262  METHODISM 

signed,  it  is  proper  to  notice  the  prevalence  of  infi- 
delity at  this  period. 

"Early  in  the  spring  of  1793,  circumstances 
occurred  which  fanned  the  passions  of  the  people 
into  a  perfect  flame.  The  French  Eevolution  had 
sounded  a  tocsin  which  reverberated  throufrhout 
the  whole  civilized  world.  The  worn-out  despot- 
isms of  Europe,  after  standing  aghast  for  a  moment, 
in  doubtful  inactivity,  had  awakened  at  length  into 
ill-concerted  combinations  against  the  young  Ee- 
public,  and  France  was  engaged  in  a  life-and-death 
struggle  against  Britain,  Spain,  Prussia,  Austria, 
and  the  German  Principalities.  The  terrible  energy 
which  the  French  Eepublic  displayed  against  such 
fearful  odds,  the  haughty  crest  with  which  she  con- 
fronted her  enemies,  and  repelled  them  from  her 
frontier  at  every  point,  presented  a  spectacle  well 
calculated  to  dazzle  the  friends  of  democracy 
throughout  the  world. 

"  The  American  people  loved  France  as  their  ally 
in  the  Eevolution,  and  now  regarded  her  as  a  sister 
Eepublic  contending  for  freedom  against  banded 
despots."* 

The  wide-spread  sympathy  of  this  country  with 
France  was  natural.  But  France  had  embraced 
infidelity.  The  Bible  there  had  undergone  a 
total  eclipse ;  its  hallowed  teachings  despised  and 
spurned ;  "  death  declared  to  be  an  eternal  sleep ;  " 
while  Atheism — the  very  worst  form  of  infidelity — 
was  openly  professed  by  all  classes  of  society.     We 

*Collins's  Kentucky,  p.  46. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  263 

too  had  just  emerged  from  a  long  and  bloody  war, 
and  were  not  free  from  the  vices  and  demoraliza- 
tion always  consequent  upon  a  protracted,  sangui- 
nary strife.  Vice,  in  hideous  form,  in  the  light  of 
noonday,  walked  through  the  land.  The  writings 
of  Paine,  Voltaire,  and  others,  intended  to  sap  the 
foundations  of  Christianity,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
offering  no  other  *'balm  to  the  wounded  spirit," 
were  sown  broadcast  throughout  the  land.  Not 
only  were  their  sentiments  embraced  by  the  masses 
of  the  American  people,  but  many,  holding  high 
positions  of  public  trust,  and  belonging  to  the  more 
influential  walks  of  life,  imbibed  these  doctrines, 
and  openly  avowed  their  disbelief  in  the  word  of 
God. 

"  To  add  to  the  darkness  of  the  moral  horizon, 
most  of  the  Churches  had  sunk  into  mere  formality, 
so  that  the  doctrine  of  the  new  birth — implying 
that  radical  change  of  heart  which  brings  with  it 
the  evidence  of  pardon  and  adoption — was  quite 
ignored  or  totally  repudiated.  The  dogmas  of 
election  and  reprobation,  predestination  and  de- 
crees, were  the  themes  of  the  pulpit;  and  they 
rather  confirmed  than  weakened  the  popular  dispo- 
sition to  reject  revelation.  The  masses  considered 
such  doctrines  a  slander  upon  God's  justice,  as  well 
as  his  goodness,  and  concluded  that,  if  the  Bible 
afforded  such  views  of  Jehovah,  it  could  not  be 
true."  * 

If,  under  these  circumstances,  there  is  an  apparent 

*Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper,  in  Home  Circle,  Vol.  I.,  p.  61, 


264  .  METHODISM 

lull  in  the  moral  and  religious  atmosphere,  we  need 
express  no  surprise.  Christianity  was  preparing 
for  a  mighty  contest.  The  doctrines  revealed  in 
the  word  of  God  had  been  faithfully  preached  by 
our  fathers  in  the  ministry,  as  well  as  by  pious  men 
of  other  denominations,  during  the  period  we  have 
just  had  under  review.  Occasionally  manifesta- 
tions of  Divine  power  were  seen  and  felt,  under  the 
preaching  of  the  word,  and  at  times  remarkable  re- 
vivals blessed  the  Church.  Persons  in  different 
portions  of  the  State,  and  of  all  classes  of  society, 
from  the  most  humble  to  the  most  refined  and  en- 
lightened, had  become  the  subjects  of  converting 
grace,  though,  in  the  midst  of  the  general  apathy 
and  vice,  they  were  like  scattered  lights  along  the 
sky.     A  bright  day,  however,  was  just  at  hand. 

The  occasional  revivals  of  religion  in  Tennessee 
and  Kentucky,  with  which  these  States  had  been 
favored  toward  the  close  of  the  century,  and  which 
had  resulted  in  so  much  good,  not  only  in  keeping 
alive  the  faith  of  the  Church,  but  also  in  extend- 
ing its  borders,  were  the  precursors  of  displays 
of  Divine  power,  more  signal  than  had  been 
known  in  this  country.  Glorious  as  they  were, 
and  freighted  with  so  many  blessings,  they  were  as 
the  unpretending  cloud  preceding  the  abundant 
rain.  The  future  was  full  of  hope  to  the  Church. 
Infidelity,  that  long  had  stood  up  with  brazen  front, 
must  stand  abashed ;  fixlse  and  erroneous  doctrines 
yield  to  tlie  power  of  truth,  and  men  who  had 
spurned  the  Bible  must  recognize  its  authority  and 
its  claims. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  ^  265 

The  year  1799  was  remarkable  for  the  beginning 
of  the  revival  of  religion  in  the  West,  since  known 
as  "the  great  revival."  It  commenced  under  the 
labors  of  the  Rev.  John  and  William  McGee,  two 
brothers — the  former  a  local  preacher  in  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  the  latter  a  Presbyte- 
rian minister  in  charge  of  a  congregation  in  Sumner 
county,  Tennessee.  They  had  formerlj^  resided  in 
^N'orth  Carolina,  but  had  removed  to  Tennessee. 

Most  ardentl}^  attached  to  each  other,  they  fre- 
quently held  meetings  together,  and  labored  side 
by  side  for  the  promotion  of  a  common  Christianity. 
Starting  upon  a  preaching  tour  toward  the  Ohio 
River,  they  concluded  to  attend  a  sacramental  meet- 
ing on  Red  River,  in  Logan  county,  Kentucky,  in 
the  congregation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  McGready,  a  min- 
ister in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  opening 
sermon  was  preached  by  John  McGee,  with  more 
than  his  usual  liberty.  The  pulpit  was  also  filled 
by  his  brother  William,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hodge, 
also  a  Presbyterian  minister,  who  "  preached  with 
much  animation  and  liberty." 

Although  a  deep  religious  feeling  pervaded  the 
assembly,  there  was  no  remarkable  stir  until  Mon- 
day, the  last  day  of  the  meeting.  Under  the 
preaching  of  Mr.  Hodge,  a  lady  obtained  "  an  un- 
common blessing,"  and  "shouted"  the  praises  of 
God.  The  Rev.  Messrs.  Rankin  and  McGready, 
Presbyterian  ministers,  who  were  also  present  with 
Mr.  Hodge,  left  the  house,  while  the  two  brothers 
McGee  sat  still — the  people  also  remaining  in  their 
seats.    John  McGee  was  appointed  to  preach,  but 


266  METHODISM 

a  Divine  power  filled  the  house,  and  he  could  only 
exhort,  and  following  his  exhortation  were  cries 
from  penitent  hearts,  and  many  passed  "  from  death 
unto  life." 

The  meeting  on  Muddy  River,  three  miles  east 
of  Russellville,  which  was  the  next  popular  meet- 
ing held  by  the  McGees,  was  attended  by  a  large 
concourse  of  people  from  far  and  near.  They  came 
on  foot,  on  horseback,  and  in  wagons,  and  camped 
on  the  ground. 

This  meeting  was  the  origin  of  camp-meetings 
in  the  United  States.  About  forty  souls  were  con- 
verted to  God. 

Their  next  appointment  was  ten  miles  west  of 
Gallatin,  Tennessee,  in  Sumner  county,  a  little 
south-east  of  the  Cumberland  Kidge.  The  attend- 
ance at  this  meetins:  was  more  numerous  than  at 
either  of  those  previously  held.  Ministers  of  the 
Presbyterian  and  Baptist  Churches,  as  well  as 
Methodists,  in  large  numbers,  were  in  attendance. 
The  work  generally  met  with  opposition  from  the 
preachers  of  the  Baptist  Church.  For  intensity  of 
feeling,  for  extraordinary  displays  of  Divine  power, 
for  the  amount  of  good  accomplished,  this  meeting 
surpassed  the  former  two. 

The  most  remarkable  meeting,  however,  that  was 
held  by  these  faithful  ministers  of  Christ,  was  the 
one  on  Desha's  Creek,  near  Cumberland  River. 
Thousands  attended.  Under  the  preaching  of  the 
word,  hundreds  were  convicted,  and  converted  to 
God.  All  ranks  of  society,  all  classes  of  people — 
persons  of  every  age,  from  gentle  youth  to  those 


IN    KENTUCKY.  267 

trembling  with  the  weight  of  years — were  the  sub- 
jects of  the  work. 

The  following  letter,  dated  June  23, 1820,  written 
by  John  McGee  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  L.  Douglass — 
at  that  time  the  Presiding  Elder  of  the  IlTashville 
District — will  be  read  with  interest :  * 

"Dear  Sir: — In  compliance  with  your  request, 
I  have  endeavored  to  recollect  some  of  the  most 
noted  circumstances  which  occurred  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  work  of  God  in  the  States  of 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and  which  came  under 
my  observation  in  1799  and  the  two  following  years. 

"  I  suppose  I  am  one  of  the  two  brothers  referred 
to  in  ^  Theophilus  Arminius's  account  of  the  work 
of  God  in  the  Western  country.'  My  brother  Wil- 
liam McGee  is  fallen  asleep  in  the  bosom  of  his 
beloved  Master.  We  were  much  attached  to  each 
other  from  our  infancy,  but  much  more  so  when  we 
both  experienced  the  uniting  love  of  Jesus  Christ. 
I  was  the  oldest,  and  by  the  mercy  and  grace  of 
God,  sought  and  experienced  religion  first.  With 
great  anxiety  of  mind,  he  heard  me  preach  the 
unsearchable  riches  of  Christ,  before  he  felt  or  en- 
joyed peace  with  God.  After  he  obtained  religion, 
he  thought  proper  to  receive  Holy  Orders  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church;  and,  after  preaching  some 
time  in  !N"orth  Carolina  and  in  the  Holston  country, 
he  came  to  Cumberland,  (now  West  Tennessee,) 
about  the  year  1796  or  1797,  and  settled  in  a  con- 

*  Methodist  Magazine,  Vol.  IV.,  pp.  189,  190,  191. 


268  METHODISM 

gregation  in  Sumner  county,  about  the  year  1798. 
Several  reasons  induced  me  to  remove,  with  my 
family,  from  ^North  Carolina  to  the  Western  coun- 
try ;  and  in  the  year  1798,  settled  in  Sumner  (now 
Smith)  county.  The  difference  of  doctrines  pro- 
fessed by  the  Presbyterian  and  Methodist  Churches 
were  not  sufficient  to  dissolve  those  ties  of  love  and 
affection  which  we  both  felt.  We  loved,  and 
prayed,  and  preached  together;  and  God  was 
pleased  to  own  and  bless  us  and  our  labors.  In 
the  year  1799,  we  agreed  to  make  a  tour  through 
the  Barrens,  toward  Ohio,  and  concluded  to  attend 
a  sacramental  solemnity  in  the  Eev.  Mr.  McGready's 
congregation,  on  Red  River,  in  our  way.  When 
we  came  there,  I  was  introduced  by  my  brother, 
and  received  an  invitation  to  address  the  cons^reora- 
tion  from  the  pulpit,  and  I  know  not  that  ever  God 
favored  me  with  more  light  and  liberty  than  he  did 
each  day,  while  I  endeavored  to  convince  the  people 
they  were  sinners,  and  urged  the  necessity  of  re- 
pentance, and  of  a  change  from  nature  to  grace; 
and  held  up  to  their  view  the  greatness,  freeness, 
and  fullness  of  salvation,  which  was  in  Christ  Jesus, 
for  lost,  guilty,  condemned  sinners.  My  brother 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hodge  preached  with  much  ani- 
mation and  liberty.  The  people  felt  the  force  of 
truth,  and  tears  ran  down  their  cheeks,  but  all  was 
silent  until  Monday,  the  last  day  of  the  feast.  Mr. 
Hodge  gave  a  useful  discourse ;  an  intermission  was 
given,  and  I  was  appointed  to  preach.  While  Mr. 
Hodge  was  preaching,  a  woman  in  the  cast  end  of 
the  house  got  an  uncommon  blessing,  broke  through 


IN    KENTUCKY.  269 

order,  and  shouted  for  some  time,  and  then  sat  down 
in  silence.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon,  Messrs. 
Hodge,  McGready,  and  Rankin  went  out  of  the 
house  ;  my  brother  and  myself  sat  still ;  the  people 
seemed  to  have  no  disposition  to  leave  their  seats. 
My  brother  felt  such  a  power  come  on  him,  that  he 
quit  his  seat,  and  sat  down  on  the  floor  of  the  pul- 
pit, (I  suppose,  not  knowing  what  he  did.)  A  power 
which  caused  me  to  tremble  was  upon  me.  There 
was  a  solemn  weeping  all  over  the  house.  Having 
a  wish  to  preach,  I  strove  against  my  feelings ;  at 
length  I  rose  up  and  told  the  people  I  was  appointed 
to  preach,  but  there  was  a  greater  than  I  preaching, 
and  exhorted  them  to  let  the  Lord  God  Omnipotent 
reign  in  their  hearts,  and  to  submit  to  him,  and 
their  souls  should  live.  Many  broke  silence ;  the 
woman  in  the  east  end  of  the  house  shouted  tremen- 
dously. I  left  the  pulpit  to  go  to  her,  and  as  I  went 
along  through  the  people,  it  was  suggested  to  me : 
*  You  know  these  people  are  much  for  order;  they 
will  not  bear  this  confusion  ;  go  back,  and  be  quiet.' 
I  turned  to  go  back,  and  was  near  falling.  The 
power  of  God  was  strong  upon  me  ;  I  turned  again, 
and,  losing  sight  of  the  fear  of  man,  I  went  through 
the  house,  shouting  and  exhorting  with  all  possible 
ecstasy  and  energy,  and  the  floor  was  soon  covered 
with  the  slain  ;  their  screams  for  mercy  pierced  the 
heavens,  and  mercy  came  down.  Some  found  for- 
giveness, and  many  went  away  from  that  meeting, 
feeling  unutterable  agonies  of  soul  for  redemption 
in  the  blood  of  Jesus.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
that  glorious  revival  of  religion  in  this  country, 


270  METHODISM 

which  was  so  great  a  blessing  to  thousands;  and 
from  this  meeting  carap-meetings  took  their  rise. 
One  man,  for  the  want  of  horses  for  all  his  family 
to  ride  and  attend  the  meeting,  fixed  up  his  wagon, 
in  which  he  took  them  and  his  provisions,  and  lived 
on  the  ground  throughout  the  meeting.  He  had 
left  his  worldly  cares  behind  him,  and  had  nothing 
to  do  but  attend  on  Divine  service. 

"  The  next  popular  meeting  was  on  Muddy  River, 
and  this  was  a  camp-meeting :  a  number  of  wagons 
loaded  with  people  came  together,  and  camped  on 
the  ground;  and  the  Lord  was  present,  and  ap- 
proved of  their  zeal  by  sealing  a  pardon  to  about 
forty  souls.  The  next  camp-meeting  was  on  the 
Ridge,  w^here  there  was  an  increase  of  people,  and 
carriages  of  different  descriptions,  and  a  great  many 
preachers  of  the  Presbyterian  and  Methodist  orders, 
and  some  of  the  Baptist ;  but  the  latter  were  gene- 
rally opposed  to  the  work.  Preaching  commenced, 
and  the  people  prayed,  and  the  power  of  God  at- 
tended. There  was  a  great  cry  for  mercy.  The 
nights  were  truly  awful ;  the  camp-ground  was  well 
illuminated;  the  people  were  differently  exercised 
all  over  the  ground — some  exhorting,  some  shout- 
ing, some  praying,  and  some  crying  for  merc}^ 
while  others  lay  as  dead  men  on  the  ground.  Some 
of  the  spiritually  wounded  fled  to  the  woods,  and 
their  groans  could  be  heard  all  through  the  sur- 
rounding groves,  as  the  groans  of  dying  men. 
From  thence  many  came  into  the  camp,  rejoicing 
and  praising  God  for  having  found  redemption  in 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb.     At  this  meeting,  it  was 


IN     KENTUCKY.  271 

computed  that  one  hundred  souls  were  converted 
from  nature  to  grace.  But  perhaps  the  greatest  meet- 
ing we  ever  witnessed  in  this  country,  took  place 
shortly  after,  on  Desha's  Creek,  near  Cumberland 
River.  Many  thousands  of  people  attended.  The 
mighty  power  and  mercy  of  God  were  manifested. 
The  people  fell  before  the  word,  like  corn  before  a 
storm  of  wind,  and  many  rose  from  the  dust  with 
Divine  glory  shining  in  their  countenances,  and 
gave  glory  to  God  in  such  strains  as  made  the  hearts 
of  stubborn  sinners  to  tremble ;  and  after  the  first 
gust  of  praise,  they  would  break  forth  in  volleys  of 
exhortation.  Amongst  these  were  many  small, 
home-bred  boys,  who  spoke  with  the  tongue,  wis- 
dom and  eloquence  of  the  learned — and  truly  they 
were  learned,  for  they  were  all  taught  of  God,  who 
had  taken  their  feet  out  of  the  mire  and  clay,  and 
put  a  new  song  in  their  mouths.  Although  there 
were  converts  of  different  ages  under  this  work,  it 
was  remarkable,  they  were  generally  the  children 
of  praying  parents.  Here  John  A.  Granade,  the 
Western  poet,  who  composed  the  Pilgrim's  songs — 
after  being  many  months  in  almost  entire  despera- 
tion, till  he  was  w^orn  down,  and  appeared  like  a 
walking  skeleton — found  pardon  and  mercy  from 
God,  and  began  to  preach  a  risen  Jesus.  Some  of 
the  Pharisees  cried  disorder  and  confusion^  but  in  dis- 
orderly assemblies  there  are  generally  dislocated  and 
broken  bones,  and  bruised  flesh;  but  here,  the 
women  laid  their  sleeping  children  at  the  roots  of 
the  trees,  while  hundreds,  of  all  ages  and  colors, 
were  stretched  on  the  ground  in  the  agonies  of  con- 


272  METHODISM 

victioD,  and  as  dead  men,  while  thousands,  day  and 
night,  were  crowding  round  them,  and  passing  to 
and  fro,  yet  there  was  nobody  hurt ;  *  which  shows 
that  the  people  were  perfectly  in  their  senses ;  and 
on  this  chaos  of  apparent  confusion,  God  said,  Let 
there  be  light,  and  there  was  light !  and  many 
emerged  out  of  darkness  into  it.  We  have  hardly 
ever  had  a  camp-meeting  since,  without  his  pres- 
ence and  power  to  convert  souls.  Glory  to  God 
and  the  Lamb,  for  ever  and  ever ! 
"Yours  respectfully, 

"John  McGee." 

The  revivals  that  thus  began,  under  the  labors  of 
these  iwo  brothers,  soon  spread  over  the  entire  of 
Southern  Kentucky,  and  what  is  now  known  as 
Middle  Tennessee.  Their  sacred  influence  was  car- 
ried into  every  community,  and  felt  in  almost  every 
home.  The  Church  was  inspired  with  a  new  zeal, 
and  the  truth  was  proclaimed  with  an  energy  and 
pathos  that  impressed  it  on  the  hearts  of  the  people. 

*  "  There  was  a  man  at  the  Kidge  meeting,  who  got  mad,  cursed  the 
people,  and  said  he  would  go  home ;  but  before  he  got  out  of  sight 
of  the  camp-ground,  a  tree  fell  on  him,  and  he  was  carried  home 
dead." 


IN    KENTUCKY.  273 


CHAPTEH  XI. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1800,  HELD  AT  DUNWORTH, 
ON  HOLSTON,  ON  THE  FIRST  FRIDAY  IN  APRIL,  TO  THE 
CONFERENCE  HELD  AT  BETHEL  ACADEMY,  KENTUCKY, 
COMMENCING  ON  THE  SIXTH  DAY  OF  THE  FOLLOWING 
OCTOBER. 

Local  preachers — John  Nelson — Robert  Strawbridge — Francis  Clark 
— Gabriel  and  Daniel  Woodfield — John  Baird — Benjamin  North- 
cutt — Nathanael  Harris — Philip  W.  Taylor — Henry  Ogburn — Wil- 
liam Forman — Joseph  Ferguson — The  Conference  in  the  spring  of 
1800 — The  General  Conference — William  Burke — Thomas  Shelton 
— Controveisy  with  the  Baptists — William  Burke  chosen  Presiding 
Elder — The  Revival — Sandusky  Station — William  Algood — Hez- 
ekiah  Harriman — John  Sale — Jonathan  Kidwell. 

"We  have  now  reached  a  period  in  the  history  of 
Methodism  in  Kentucky  from  which  we  may  survey 
the  chief  instruments  hy  whose  influence  it  attained 
its  position  at  the  close  of  the  last  century. 

For  several  years  previous  to  the  appointment  of 
Messrs.  Haw  and  Ogden  to  the  District,  Kentucky 
had  been  constantly  receiving  accessions  from  the 
older  settlements,  some  of  whom  had  been  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church  in  the  States  whence  they 
came.  They  had,  with  reluctance,  left  the  altars 
around  which  they  had  worshiped,  and  had  come 
to  the  "West,  cherishing  the  hope  that,  at  no  distant 


274  METHODISM 

day,  their  new  homes  would  be  visited  by  the  min- 
isters of  Christ,  of  their  own  denomination.     The 
Revolutionary  war,  which  had  been  protracted  be- 
yond the  expectations  of  the  infant  Republic,  had 
greatly  retarded  the  enterprises  of  the  Church,  and 
prevented,  at  an  earlier  period,  the  occupancy  of 
this  distant  field.     Indeed,  the  societies  that,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  preachers  sent  out  by  Mr.  Wes- 
ley, and  those  who  joined  them,  had  grown  up  in 
l!^ew  York,  'New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland, 
Virginia,  Delaware,  and  Il^orth  Carolina,  had,  during 
the  American  struggle,  maintained  their  existence 
and   increased   in   strength,   amid    opposition   and 
under  difiiculties,  before  which  the  standard-bearers 
of  a  cause  less  worthy  would  have  yielded.    "  Perse- 
cuted, but  not  forsaken,"  they  had  lifted  their  col- 
ors, never  to  strike  them ;  and,  from  the  Conference 
held  in  Baltimore,  May  21, 1776,  to  the  one  "  begun 
at  Ellis's  Preaching-house,  Virginia,  April  30,  1784, 
and  ended  at  Baltimore,  May  28,  following — cover- 
ing a  period  of  eight  years,  during  which  ten  Con- 
ferences were  held — the  societies  had  increased  from 
four  thousand  nine  hundred  and  twenty-one  to  fourteen 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighty -eight,  and  the  num- 
ber of  preachers  from  twenty-four  to  eighty-three;  and 
during  the  same  period  the  number  of  circuits  had 
grown  from  eleven  to  forty-six'' — this,  too,  while  the 
nation  was   in  commotion,  and   struggling  to  be 
free.      It  is  but   seldom   that  the  Church,  under 
such  circumstances,  has  been  permitted  to  record 
triumphs  superior  to  tliose  achieved  by  Methodism 
during  this  period.     The  war  had  closed  favorably 


IN    KENTUCKY.  275 

to  tho  colonies,  and,  closely  identified  witli  its  ter- 
mination, and  in  the  same  year,  the  Christmas  Con- 
ference was  held  at  which  the  ^'  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  America"  was  organized.  Kentucky,  in 
the  meantime,  Avhen  w^e  consider  the  dangers  to 
which  the  settlers  were  exposed,  had  rapidly  in- 
creased in  population,  and  presented  to  the  Church, 
if  not  an  inviting  field,  at  least  one  having  claims 
upon  their  consideration.  In  1786,  we  have  seen 
two  men,  severing  the  ties  that  had  bound  them  to 
friends  and  home,  pursuing  their  solitary  journey 
over  unfrequented  paths,  meeting  dangers,  and  ex- 
posed to  sufferings  and  sacrifices,  such  as  few  men 
had  previously  encountered.  "We  pause  to  inquire 
for  the  motive  that  influenced  them.  Why  did  they 
leave  homes  surrounded,  at  least,  by  the  comforts 
of  life,  and  embark  in  such  an  enterprise — exchang- 
ing ease  for  hardship,  and  safety  for  peril  ?  In  the 
humble  cabin  of  Thomas  Stevenson,  as  we  see  Ben- 
jamin Ogden  kneel  and  off*er  up  to  God  the  first 
public  prayer  that  ever  fell  from  an  itinerant's  lips 
in  Kentucky,  pleading  for  the  blessings  of  Heaven 
upon  the  cause  he  had  come  to  establish,  and  upon 
the  generous  family  whose  hospitality  he  was  enjoy- 
ing, and  around  whose  altar  he  was  kneeling,  w^e 
find  an  answer  to  the  inquiry.  We  have  seen  the 
success  that  crowned  their  labors.  The  little  Church 
organized  in  the  cottage-home  of  Mr.  Stevenson 
was  seed  sown  in  good  ground,  while  the  teachings 
of  Mr.  Ogden  was  ''  bread  cast  upon  the  waters,  to 
be  seen  after  many  days."  Unpromising  as  was  this 
commencement,  it  was  the  opening  of  a  new  era  in 


276  METHODISM 

tlie  wilds  of  the  "West ;  it  was  the  introduction  of  a 
system  that — whether  rapid  in  its  growth,  or  slow  in 
its  development — should  gladden  the  hearts  and 
bless  the  homes  of  thousands.  To  the  brightest 
dreams  of  the  imagination  it  could  scarcely  have 
occurred,  that,  before  the  close  of  the  century,  from 
the  Church  in  Kentucky,  the  gospel,  in  the  form  of 
Methodism,  would  not  only  have  permeated  every 
section  of  Kentucky,  but  would  extend  its  lines  into 
Middle  Tennessee,  and  beyond  the  Ohio  into  the 
iN'orth-western  Territory.  'No  such  bright  hopes 
opened  up  before  the  minds  of  the  pioneer  preach- 
ers in  this  District.  True,  they  expected  good 
results  from  their  labors.  For  this  they  preached, 
and  prayed,  and  suffered.  We  have  followed  them 
and  their  coadjutors  in  their  hardships,  their  toils, 
and  their  triumphs.  We  have  traveled  with  them 
from  fort  to  fort,  until  we  have  traversed  the  entire 
State,  permeating  every  settlement,  and  listened  to 
the  truths  they  proclaimed.  Looking  to  the  interest 
of  the  rising  generation  and  the  future  of  the 
Church,  w^e  have  seen  them  projecting  schemes  of 
education,  and  laying  the  foundation  of  sanctified 
learning.  We  have  seen  houses  of  worship  erected 
in  different  portions  of  the  State — not  costly  edi- 
fices, it  is  true,  but  plain  structures,  adapted  to  the 
times,  and  to  the  wants  of  the  people — where  hun- 
dreds were  accustomed  to  assemble  and  worship 
God.  We  have  seen  the  Church  triumphing  over 
obstacles,  and  assuming  a  permanent  form.  And 
now,  we  inquire,  what  instrumentalities,  besides  the 
itinerant  ministry,  have  been  employed,  under  the 


IN    KENTUCKY.  277 

blessings  of  Heaven,  by  which  such  results  have 
been  achieved?  To  the  careful  observer  of  the 
events  we  have  recorded,  and  the  times  through 
which  we  have  passed,  there  is  no  difficulty  in  an- 
swering the  inquiry. 

We  have  already  noticed  that,  previous  to  the 
appointment  of  James  Haw  and  Benjamin  Ogden 
to  Kentucky,  a  few  local  preachers  had  settled  in 
the  District.  With  whatever  opposition  the  intro- 
duction of  a  lay  ministry  had  met  in  the  councils 
of  the  Church,  the  utility  of  this  element  of  strength 
was  developed,  in  the  early  days  of  Methodism, 
both  in  Europe  and  America.  The  force  of  circum- 
stances compelled  many  of  the  first  preachers  to 
assume  this  relation.  Ministers  who  had  entered 
the  itinerant  field  expecting  to  close  their  labors 
only  with  the  termination  of  life,  after  a  few  years 
of  active  service,  were  compelled  to  retire  from  the 
ranks.  Worn  out  by  the  arduous  duties  they  per- 
formed, and  unable  longer  to  meet  the  responsibili- 
ties of  pastoral  work,  they  yielded  to  the  stern 
decree  of  necessity,  and  in  the  shades  of  the  local 
ranks  they  sought  for  quietude  and  rest.  Carrying 
with  them  to  their  retirement  constitutions  impaired 
by  incessant  toil,  and,  in  many  cases,  the  germs  of 
disease  which  too  plainly  indicated  that  they  were 
martyrs  to  the  work  to  which  their  strength  had 
been  devoted,  and  that  theirs  would  be  an  early 
grave,  yet  feeling  no  abatement  in  their  interest  in 
the  cause  to  which  they  had  pledged  their  all,  we 
find  them  unwilling  to  loiter  in  the  vineyard  of  the 
Lord. 


278  METHODISM 

Others,  however,  who  had  been  soundly  converted 
to  God,  and  feeling  divinely  impressed  with  the 
conviction  that  they  ought  to  preach  the  gospel,  yet 
unable,  from  domestic  cares  and  responsibilities,  to 
devote  themselves  exclusively  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  were  to  be  found  in  the  Church.  Of  un- 
doubted piety,  possessing  gifts  that  qualified  them 
for  usefulness,  and  capable  of  exerting  an  influence 
for  good,  with  the  approval  of  the  Church,  they 
w^ere  inclined  to  participate  in  the  services  of  the 
sanctuary. 

Such  was  the  introduction  of  a  lay  ministry  into 
the  Church. 

The  faithful  stone-mason  of  Birstal  was  scarcely 
surpassed  in  zeal  by  Mr.  "Wesley  himself;  and  the 
labors  of  the  eccentric  and  devoted  Strawbridge 
comipare  favorably  with  those  of  Watters  and  of 
Garretson.  If,  in  the  early  days  of  Methodism,  the 
lay  ministers  were  not  so  successful  in  planting 
Churches,  by  their  faithful  labors  they  w^atered  the 
good  seed  that  had  been  sown  by  the  itinerant,  and, 
in  many  instances,  with  parental  care,  watched  the 
growth  of  the  infant  societies. 

Into  newly  settled  countries,  not  only  as  pioneer 
settlers,  but  as  pioneers  of  their  faith,  they  have  fre- 
quently gone,  and,  in  advance  of  the  itinerant 
preacher,  have  organized  societies,  to  be  transferred 
afterward  to  his  pastoral  care. 

In  the  older  and  more  populous  settlements,  they 
have  enjoyed  the  high  distinction  of  seeking  com- 
munities which  the  circuit-preacher  could  not  em- 
brace in  his  field  of  labor,  because  of  the  amount 


IN    KENTUCKY.  279 

of  work  he  already  bad  to  perform.  When,  through 
their  iustrumentality,  communities  have  been  con- 
verted and  brought  under  their  teachings,  with  a 
cheerfulness  that  evinced  their  devotion  to  the 
Church,  they  have  invited  the  itinerant  preacher  to 
take  them  under  his  pastoral  charge,  and  then  they 
have  turned  their  attention  to  other  and  untried 
fields.  Thus  have  new  circuits  been  formed,  and 
the  borders  of  the  Church  enlarged.  In  the  com- 
munities in  which  they  have  resided,  their  influence 
has  been  salutary,  rendering  the  Church  healthful 
and  prosperous,  without  the  promise  of  any  remu- 
neration for  their  services,  except  that  derived  from 
a  consciousness  of  the  performance  of  duty,  and 
the  hope  of  being  instrumental  in  the  salvation  of 
sinners.  Many  of  them  have  passed  weeks  together 
from  home  on  tours  of  preaching,  laboring  with  a 
zeal  commensurate  with  the  wants  of  the  Church 
and  the  interests  of  those  whom  they  served.  "With- 
out the  responsibilities  of  the  pastoral  ofiice,  they 
have  exercised  its  functions  and  performed  its  la- 
bors. In  the  homes  of  poverty ;  by  the  bedside  of 
the  sick ;  in  places  of  bereavement  and  sorrow,  as 
well  as  at  the  altars  of  the  Church,  they  have  suc- 
cessfully rivaled  the  zealous  and  indefatigable  evan- 
gelist in  offering  hope  to  the  despairing,  salvation 
to  the  lost,  and  life  to  the  dead. 

Allusion  has  already  been  made  to  Francis  Clark, 
a  local  preacher  of  fervent  piety,  of  untiring  zeal, 
and  of  considerable  ability,  who  settled  in  Kentucky 
three  years  before  the  appointment  of  Haw  and 
Ogden. 


280  METHODISM 

The  year  following  his  settlement  in  the  Dis- 
trict, under  his  ministrations,  a  few  persons  in  Mercer 
county  associated  themselves  in  a  class,  and  thus 
formed  the  first  society  of  Methodists  in  Ken- 
tucky. This  society  was  the  nucleus  around  which 
was  formed  the  Danville  Circuit,  recorded  at  so 
early  a  period  in  the  printed  Minutes.  Other  local 
preachers,  whose  names  we  have  mentioned,  had 
labored  assiduously  in  their  respective  communities, 
either  as  the  precursors  of  the  missionaries,  or  in 
co'dperation  with  them,  in  the  establishment  of 
Christianity,  and  in  pushing  forward  the  victories 
of  the  cross. 

Several  of  the  preachers  who  had  been  compelled 
to  retire  from  the  itinerant  field  because  of  the  fail- 
ure of  their  strength,  and  whose  labors  had  been 
greatly  blessed,  had  settled  among  those  who  had 
been  brought  to  Christ  through  their  instrumen- 
tality, and  continued,  to  watch  over  their  spiritual 
interest  with  the  same  vigilance  that  had  previously 
distinguished  them,  though  in  a  more  circumscribed 
sphere. 

Among  these  the  name  of  Benjamin  I^orthcutt — 
of  whose  life  and  labors  we  gave  an  account  in  a 
previous  chapter — stands  preeminent.  Failing  in 
health  after  a  few  vears  in  the  itinerant  field,  he 
became  more  prominent  than  any  other  minister  in 
the  local  ranks.  Kot  only  in  the  vindication  of  the 
great  truths  of  Christianity,  but  in  those  revivals 
that  occasionally  shed  their  light  upon  the  Church 
near  the  close  of  the  past,  and  especially  in  the 
great   revival    that  spread    througliout   Kentucky 


IN    KENTUCKY.  281 

about  the  commencement  of  the  present  century, 
he  was  remarkably  prominent  and  useful. 

Previous  to  the  year  1800,  Nathanael  Harris, 
Philip  W.  Taylor,  Joseph  Ferguson,  William  For- 
man,  and  Henry  Ogburn,  from  Virginia;  Gabriel 
and  Daniel  Woodfield,  from  Pennsylvania;  Wil- 
liam J.  Thompson,  from  ITorth  Carolina,  and  John 
Baird,  from  Maryland,  settled  in  Kentucky.  Messrs. 
Harris  and  Taylor  located  in  Jessamine ;  William 
Forman  in  Bourbon  ;  Henry  Ogburn  in  what  is  now 
Carroll;  the  Woodfields  in  Fayette;  William  J. 
Thompson  in  Mercer ;  Joseph  Ferguson  in  Nelson, 
and  John  Baird  in  the  same  count}^  (now  Larue.) 

These  men,  scattered  through  dilFerent  portions 
of  the  State,  by  their  zeal  and  their  piety,  contrib- 
uted much  to  the  planting  and  growth  of  the 
Church. 

Nathanael  Harris  was  a  very  superior  man.  Hav- 
ing enjoyed  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education, 
and  possessing  a  fine  native  intellect — his  whole  life 
an  exemplification  of  the  truth  of  Christianity — he 
brought  all  his  powers  to  the  foot  of  the  cross,  and 
consecrated  them  upon  the  altars  of  the  Church. 
We  will,  however,  meet  with  him  again,  in  the  itin- 
erant ranks,  dispensing  the  blessings  of  Christianity, 
and  shedding  upon  the  people  the  light  of  a  holy  life. 

Philip  W.  Taylor  was  among  the  most  indefati- 
gable and  useful  of  the  early  local  preachers.  He 
was  born  in  Eastern  Virginia  about  the  year  1764, 
and  entered  the  Continental  army,  and  was  present 
at  the  siege  of  Yorktown  and  the  surrender  of 
Cornwallis. 


282  METHODISM 

About  1793,  he  came  to  Kentucky.  While  de- 
scending the  Ohio  River,  he  was  fired  on  by  the 
Indians,  and  had  one  arm  shattered  by  a  balh*  His 
wound  confined  him  for  six  months  at  the  Falls  of 
the  Ohio. 

In  1795,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Poor, 
and,  a  short  time  afterward,  they  were  both  con- 
verted, and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Impressed  with  the  conviction  that  he  ought  to 
preach,  he  was  soon  authorized  to  exercise  his  gifts 
as  a  licentiate. 

At  the  Conference  held  in  October,  in  the  year 
1800,  he  was  ordained  a  deacon  by  Bishop  Asburj^, 
and  subsequently  was  elected  to  Elders'  orders,  but 
was  refused  ordination,  in  consequence  of  his  con- 
nection with  slavery. 

Dissatisfied  with  this  interference  on  the  part  of 
the  Church  with  a  civil  institution,  he  permitted 
himself  to  become  estranged  from  its  communion ; 
and  when  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church  ex- 
tended its  influence  into  Kentucky,  he  became  a 
leading  minister  in  that  denomination. 

Of  a  bold  and  fearless  disposition,  he  was  one  of 
the  number  who,  on  two  diflerent  occasions,  accom- 
panied Bishop  Asbury  through  the  wilderness,  on 
his  early  Episcopal  visits  to  Kentucky. 

In  his  alienation  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  he  requested  his  wife  to  enter  with  him  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Church,  which  she  steadily 
refused.    Her  reply  was  :  "When  you  find  a  Church 

•'^Methodist Magazine,  for  1819,  p.  185. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  283 

in  which  I  can  eiyoy  more  religion,  and  do  more 
good,  than  the  one  I  first  joined,  I  will  go  with  you  ; 
but  not  before."  She  died  in  triumph,  March  17, 
1845,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  her  age.  Her 
name  should  be  held  in  everlasting  remembrance. 

Mr.  Taylor  was  a  good  Bible-preacher,  perfectly 
familiar  with  its  doctrines,  the  duties  it  inculcates, 
and  the  blessed  experience  it  gives  the  Christian. 

Until  he  was  eighty-five  years  of  age,  he  con- 
tinued to  preach,  with  his  mental  faculties  unim- 
paired, when  by  an  accidental  fall  he  broke  his  hip- 
bone, after  which  he  was  never  able  to  walk.  From 
this  misfortune  until  the  time  of  his  death,  in  his 
private  conversations,  his  constant  theme  was  the 
love  of  God  in  providing  salvation  for  a  lost  race, 
and  the  happiness  of  those  who  by  faith  were  made 
partakers  of  the  blessing  of  pardoned  sin.  He  con- 
tinued to  witness,  to  all  who  visited  him,  the  truth 
of  religion,  as  well  as  the  comfort  and  happiness  it 
brought  to  his  own  soul,  in  view  of  approaching 
dissolution.  In  this  happy  frame  of  mind  he  con- 
tinued until  death  released  him  from  his  sufferings. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1856,  at  about  ninety 
years  of  age,  at  the  residence  of  his  son-in-law, 
John  Wright,  he  entered  upon  the  reward  of  the 
blessed.* 

,  Among  the  first-fruits  of  Virginia  Methodism 
was  Henry  Ogburn.  He  was  born  in  Mecklenburg, 
Virginia,  November  26,  1754,  and,  in  the  twenty- 


*  Letter  from  John  Cochran,  Esq.,  of  Spencer  county,  Kentucky, 
to  the  author. 


284  METHODISM 

first  year  of  his  age,  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

In  1779,  he  entered  upon  the  itinerant  work,  and, 
until  the  Conference  of  1790,  when  he  located,  la- 
bored extensively  and  usefully  in  Virginia,  North 
Carolina,  and  Pennsylvania. 

In  the  spring  of  1794,  with  his  wife,  he  came  to 
Kentucky,  to  make  it  his  future  home.  For  a  short 
time  he  located  in  Lexington,  but  in  1795,  he  re- 
moved to  the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky  River,  and,  a 
year  or  two  subsequentl}^,  purchased  a  tract  of  land, 
two  miles  above,  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  where 
he  spent  the  remnant  of  his  days. 

As  a  preacher,  he  was  above  mediocrity.  "While 
a  member  of  the  Conference,  he  was  remarkable 
for  his  zeal ;  and  in  a  local  sphere,  he  was  distin- 
guished for  the  energy  and  fidelity  with  which  he 
prosecuted  his  high  and  holy  calling.  During  the 
period  of  his  connection  with  the  Church  in  Ken- 
tuckjT",  be  was  the  honored  instrument  of  turning 
"many  to  righteousness;"  and  in  his  death  left 
behind  him  the  fragrance  of  a  good  name.  He 
calmly  passed  away  in  the  month  of  August,  1831. 

"William  Forman  came  "  to  Kentucky  as  early  as 
1790,  and  settled  in  Bourbon  county,  where  he 
remained  until  his  death,  which  took  place  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1814.  He  never  belonged  to  the  traveling 
connection,  but  was  one  of  the  most  industrious  and 
useful  local  preachers  I  ever  knew.  His  life  was  a 
practical  comment  on  the  gospel  he  preached ;  and 
when  the  people  were  speaking  of  a  good  man,  it 
was  their  liabit  to  say,  '  He  is  almost  as  good  a  man 


IN     KENTUCKY.  285 

as  Billy  Forman.'  Such  a  life  could  have  hut  one 
termination.  "When  the  midnight  cry  came,  he 
arose,  and,  with  his  lamp  trimmed,  and  oil  in  his 
vessel,  went  forth  with  joy  to  meet  his  Lord."* 

Daniel  Woodfield,  though  not  so  ahle  or  efficient 
a  preacher  as  his  brother,  was  instrumental  in  doing 
much  good. 

Of  Joseph  Ferguson  we  have  already  made  men- 
tion in  a  former  chapter,  but  such  a  man  deserves 
more  than  a  passing  notice.  The  following  inter- 
esting sketch  was  furnished  us  by  the  Rev.  George 
T.  Gould,  of  the  Kentucky  Conference : 

"  The  Rev.  Joseph  Ferguson  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, some  time  in  the  year  1760 ;  served  through 
the  greater  part  of  the  Revolutionary  war ;  moved 
to  Kentucky,  and  settled  in  Nelson  county,  in  1784, 
where  he  died,  ITovember  28,  1828. 

"  Previous  to  the  time  of  his  conversion,  and  of 
his  being  licensed  to  preach,  we  have  utterly  failed 
to  obtain  any  information,  except  that  he  was  an 
authorized  minister  of  the  gospel  at  the  time  of  his 
emigration  to  Kentucky. 

"His  mind  was  of  that  evenly  balanced,  unim- 
passioued  order,  which  lifted  him  above  mediocrity, 
but  yet  kept  him  back  from  marked  superiority. 
He  was  a  man  of  few  books,  but  those,  especially 
his  Bible,  were  well  read.  Hence  his  sermons, 
though  they  lacked  that  polish  and  general  fund  of 
information  which  extensive  reading  gives,  were  yet 
marked  by  strong  good  sense,  and  a  practical  adap- 

*Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper,  in  Home  Circle,  Vol.  II.,  p.  73. 


286  METHODISM 

tation  to  the  wants  of  his  audience,  while  they  con- 
tained a  very  noticeable  abundance  of  Scripture 
words  and  Scripture  sentiment.  In  labors  he  was 
'more  abundant,'  preaching  far  and  near,  and  was 
thus  greatly  instrumental  in  the  introduction  and 
spread  of  Methodism  in  that  part  of  Kentucky. 
Though  living  at  the  distance  of  twelve  or  fifteen 
miles  from  Chaplin,  yet  he  had  a  regular  monthly 
appointment  at  that  place,  and  some  of  the  oldest 
and  most  useful  of  the  members  who  now  live  to 
bless  that  Church,  or  have  gone  from  the  Church 
below  to  the  Church  above,  were  brought  into  the 
fold  through  his  instrumentality.  So  kind  and 
debonair  was  he  in  his  manners,  that  he  was  a  great 
favorite  with  the  young,  who  sent  for  him,  both  far 
and  near,  that  he  might  perform  for  them  the  cere- 
mony of  marriage,  until  it  was  reckoned  by  some 
that  he  had  officiated  on  such  occasions  more  fre- 
quently than  any  other  man  in  Kentucky. 

"IsTor  did  Father  Ferguson  confine  the  manifesta- 
tions of  his  love  for  Methodism  to  these,  his  per- 
sonal efforts,  but  we  find  him  one  of  the  strongest 
friends,  advisers,  and  supporters  of  the  preacher  in 
charge  to  be  met  with  in  those  days.  An  instance 
of  this,  as  illustrating  the  condition,  manner  of  life, 
and  sacrifices  of  those  same  preachers  in  charge,  we 
have  gathered  from  the  personal  recollections  of 
his  son : 

"The  Eev.  Adjet  McGuire,  being  appointed  to 
the  Salt  Eiver  Circuit,  was  unable  to  secure,  through- 
out its  entire  extent  of  several  hundred  miles,  a 
house  for  the  accommodation  of  his  fiimily.    Father 


IN    KENTUCKY.  287 

Ferguson  had  just  erected  a  new  loom-house  in  his 
yard,  and  into  this  Mr.  McGuire's  family  were  re- 
ceived, and  in  it  they  lived  during  the  year;  while 
their  removal,  together  with  their  effects,  from  Crab 
Orchard  to  their  new  home,  was  accomplished  upon 
the  backs  of  two  horses,  one  of  which  was  sent  by 
Mr.  Ferguson. 

*'  On  a  certain  occasion,  Ferguson  and  Taylor 
happened  at  Buck  Creek  Baptist  Meeting-house,  in 
Shelby  county.  Ferguson  being  invited  to  preach, 
took  occasion  to  come  over  the  expression,  '•Sanctum 
sanctorum,'  when  one  of  the  Baptist  brethren  very 
eagerly  inquired  of  Taylor  if  the  preacher  were  not 
a  Bishop.  From  that  day,  'Bishop'  was  i\iQ  sobri- 
quet by  which  he  went. 

"  In  the  sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  on  the  28th 
of  November,  as  above  stated,  he  closed  his  life  of 
usefulness  and  Christian  hope,  seated  in  a  chair,  as 
the  dropsical  affection  from  which  he  suffered  pre- 
vented him  from  lying  upon  his  bed.  *  Come,  Lord 
Jesus  !  come  quickly ! '  were  the  last  words  that  fell 
from  his  lips,  as  he  stretched  out  his  hands  as  though 
feeling  for  his  Saviour,  while  he  raised  to  heaven 
the  eyes  from  which  death  had  already  stolen  the 
power  of  vision.  'How  blest  the  righteous  when 
he  dies!'" 

Besides  those  already  mentioned,  other  local 
preachers  had  emigrated  to  Kentucky,  or  been 
raised  up  from  the  revivals  in  the  State,  who  de- 
voted their  energies  to  the  advancement  of  truth. 

The  Conference  for  the  "West,  for  1800,  was  held 
at  Dunworth,  on   Holston,   commencing  the  first 


288  METHODISM 

Friday  in  April.  The  General  Conference  was  to 
convene  on  the  sixth  day  of  May,  in  the  same  3'ear, 
in  the  city  of  Baltimore.  Bishop  Asbury  requested 
that  all  the  preachers  who  had  labored  in  the  West 
for  any  considerable  time,  should  attend  the  General 
Conference,  and  "  receive  their  appointments  in  the 
old  States ;  and  a  new  set  be  sent  to  this  division 
of  the  work."  *  The  journey  to  Baltimore  had  to 
be  performed  on  horseback.  It  was  impracticable 
for  preachers  who  were  entitled  to  seats  in  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  to  be  present  at  Dunworth,  and 
then  reach  Baltimore  in  time  for  the  General  Con- 
ference ;  and  hence  the  Conference  on  Holston  was 
attended  by  only  a  few.f 

The  Kentucky  District,  over  which  the  Rev. 
Francis  Poythress  had  presided  the  previous  year, 
was  left  at  this  Conference  without  a  Presiding 
Elder.  We  have,  however,  several  new  men  intro- 
duced into  the  ministry  in  the  West :  William  Al- 
good,  Hezekiah  Harriman,  John  Sale,  and  Jonathan 
Kidwell  were  appointed,  with  others  previously 
mentioned,  to  the  division  of  the  work  in  which 
Kentucky  was  included. 

It  was  the  purpose  of  Bishop  Asbury  to  appoint 
a  Presiding  Elder  to  take  charge  of  "  Kentucky, 
Tennessee,  and  all  that  part  of  Virginia  west  of 
l^ew  River,  and  the  N"orth-western  Territory,  in- 
cluding the  Miami  and  Scioto  Valleys,"  in  one  Dis- 
trict. During  the  General  Conference,  "he  used 
his  utmost  endeavors"  to  accomplish  his  purpose, 

*Rov.  William  Burke.  f  Judge  Scott. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  289 

but  ftiiled.  The  vast  extent  of  territory  over  wliich 
the  Presiding  Elder  would  have  to  travel  was  more 
than  equal  to  the  strength  of  almost  any  man. 

Before  the  adjournment  of  the  Conference,  he 
applied  to  the  indefatigable  and  gifted  "William 
Burke,  and  requested  him  to  return  to  Kentucky, 
and  to  take  with  him  *'  all  the  papers  appertaining 
to  the  Annual  Conference  and  Bethel  Academy, 
and  do  the  best"  he  "could  for  the  work  in  that 
part  of  the  Held."*  The  previous  year  had  been 
one  of  signal  triumph  to  Mr.  Burke  in  Kentucky. 

Kentucky  had  been  originally  settled  chiefly  b}^ 
the  Baptists,  and  they  were  at  this  date  the  largest 
and  most  influential  denomination  in  the  State. 

Any  attempt  to  set  forth  the  peculiar  views  of  ■ 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church — especially  so  far 
as  the  issue  between  the  two  denominations  on  the 
subjects  and  mode  of  baptism  was  involved — was 
regarded  by  the  former  as  an  invasion  of  their 
rights;  and  hence  they  watched  with  a  jealous  eye 
the  rising  star  of  Methodism.  The  teachings  of 
our  Church  upon  these  questions  met  with  most 
violent  opposition,  and  was  rudely  assailed  by  the 
most  able  ministers  of  the  Baptist  denomination. 

In  the  vindication  of  our  views,  Mr.  Burke  had 
stood  up,  not  only  as  the  bold  and  fearless,  but  also 
as  the  successful  advocate.  The  prosperity  that 
had  attended  his  ministr}^,  together  with  the  fre- 
quency with  which  he  administered  the  ordinance 
of  baptism  to  infants,  had  induced  an  opposition. 


*  Western  Methodism,  p.  55. 
VOL.  I.— 10 


290  METHODISM 

which  cuhiiinated  in  a  challenge  to  a  debate,  from 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Shelton,  at  that  time  the  most 
influential  minister  in  the  Baptist  Church  in  Ken- 
tucky. The  challenge  was  promptly  accepted  by 
Mr.  Burke,  the  time  appointed,  and  the  place  fixed 
at  Irvin's  Lick,  in  Madison  county.  The  debate 
lasted  about  four  hours,  the  speeches  occupying 
about  fifteen  minutes  each,  alternately.  At  the 
close  of  the  discussion,  Mr.  Shelton  said  to  the  vast 
assembly  that  he  "believed  Mr.  Burke  to  be  an 
honest  but  mistaken  man;"  after  which  he  stood 
by  and  witnessed  the  administration  of  the  ordi- 
nance by  Mr.  Burke.  The  controversy  thus  begun 
continued  through  many  years.* 

At  the  Conference  held  at  Dunworth  in  April,  it 
is  probable  that  none  of  the  Appointments  were 
made,  as  Bishop  Asbury  held  the  selection  of  the 
men  for  the  West  in  reserve  until  the  General  Con- 
ference. This  view  is  sustained  by  the  statement  of 
Mr.  Burke,  who,  after  referring  to  the  request  of 
Bishop  Asbury,  that  he  should  return  to  Kentucky, 
says :  "I  consented,  and  he  appointed  to  go  with  me, 
John  Sale,  Hezekiah  Harriman,  William  Algood, 
and  Henry  Smith ;  for  the  Holston  country,  James 
Hunter,  John  "Watson,  and  John  Page;  and  for 
Cumberland,  William  Lambeth." 

Mr.  Burke  was  appointed  to  the  Hinkstone  Cir- 
cuit— the  same  charge  he  had,  for  a  few  months  in 
1794,  so  usefully  filled. 

The  absence  of  a  Presiding  Elder  from  the  Dis- 

*  Wcstorn  I^IothoJism,  p.  54. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  291 

trictwas  calcalated  to  produce  some  embarrassment 
in  the  work ;  and  the  preachers,  therefore,  immedi- 
ately on  their  return  from  the  General  Conference, 
met  in  council,  and  elected  Mr.  Burke  to  take 
charge  of  the  District,  which  he  did.*  This,  too, 
was  in  accordance  with  the  expressed  wish  of  Bishop 
Asbury,  who  "appointed  him  to  superintend  the 
quarterly  meetings,  where  there  was  no  Elder."  f 

It  was  proper,  in  an  eminent  degree,  that  Mr. 
Burke  should  be  the  leader  of  the  host  in  the  West. 
He  had  been  identified  with  the  sacrifices,  the  suf- 
ferings, and  the  triumphs  of  the  Church  in  this 
department,  since  his  admission  into  the  itinerancy 
in  1792.  In  the  various  conflicts  through  which  the 
Church  had  passed,  whether  our  foes  were  from 
among  those  of  our  own  household,  or  from  other 
religionists,  he  had  stood  in  the  forefront  of  the 
battle,  and  repelled  every  assault.  Under  such  a 
standard-bearer,  failure  could  never  be  written. 

The  summer  of  1800  was  distinguished  for  the 
continuance  and  spread  of  that  extraordinary  revi- 
val of  religion,  of  which  we  spoke  in  a  former  chap- 
ter. It  had  not  yet,  to  any  great  extent,  affected 
the  northern  and  central  portions  of  the  State ;  but, 
like  the  sweep  of  the  hurricane,  bearing  every  thing 
before  it,  spread  throughout  Southern  Kentucky 
and  Middle  Tennessee,  pouring  its  benign  blessings 
on  hamlet  and  village,  in  every  communit}^  The 
fires  that  it  enkindled  will  never  be  extinguished. 
"We   shall,  in   another  chapter,  follow  it  through 

*  Judge  Scott.  f  Western  Methodism,  p.  55. 


292  METHODISM 

JSTorthern  and  Central  Kentucky,  and  stand  aston- 
ished at  its  mighty  achievements. 

True,  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  was  not 
without  its  seasons  of  revivaL  In  many  communi- 
ties the  Church  had  prosperity.  At  Sandusky  Sta- 
tion, (now  Pleasant  Eun,)  more  than  one  hundred 
persons,  at  a  single  meeting,  were  converted  to 
God.* 

In  other  portions  of  the  State  displays  of  Divine 
power  were  felt.  The  Church  was  putting  "  on  her 
beautiful  garments,"  and  preparing  for  the  glory 
and  triumph  awaiting  her. 

We  have  already  referred  to  the  names  of  four 
preachers  who  were  this  year  appointed  to  the  work 
in  Kentucky,  not  mentioned  before.  "William  Al- 
good,  who  was  appointed  by  Bishop  Asbury  to 
Kentucky,  and  placed  in  charge  of  the  Limestone 
Circuit,  never  came  to  the  West. 

Jeremiah  Lawson,  who  had  located  the  previous 
year,  was  employed  by  Mr.  Burke  to  supply  his 
place,  while  Lewis  Hunt  took  the  place  of  Mr. 
Burke  on  the  Hinkstone  Circuit;  Mr.  Burke,  at 
the  same  time,  traveling  on  the  District,  and  devot- 
ing his  energies  chiefly  to  the  interest  of  the  Church 
in  the  bounds  of  the  Lexington,  Hinkstone,  and 
Limestone  Circuits. 

Mr.  Ilarriman  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1796,  and 
appointed  to  Bath  Circuit,  in  Virginia.  The  two 
following  years,  he  traveled  the  Stafford  Circuit,  in 

*  We  arc  indebted  to  the  Hon.  Charles  A.  Wickliffo,  who  was  then 
a  youth,  and  was  present,  for  this  information. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  293 

the  same  State,  after  which  he  was  changed  to  the 
Frederick  Circuit,  in  the  State  of  Maryland. 

At  the  General  Conference  of  1800,  he  volun- 
teered for  the  work  in  the  West,  and,  with  John 
Sale,  accompanied  Mr.  Burke  from  that  Conference 
to  Kentucky.  He  spent  the  years  1800  and  1801  on 
the  Danville  Circuit ;  1802  on  the  Salt  River,  and 
1803  on  the  Hinkstone. 

At  the  Conference  of  1804,  he  was  sent  to 
Natchez,  with  the  Rev.  Moses  Floyd,  A.  Amos,  and 
Tohias  Gibson.  His  exposure  to  a  Southern  cli- 
mate, together  with  the  privations  he  endured,  and 
the  arduous  labors  he  performed,  so  impaired  his 
once  vigorous  constitution,  that  he'  was  compelled 
to  seek  a  transfer  from  that  field. 

It  is  natural  for  a  minister,  when  his  health  is 
broken,  to  turn  his  thoughts  to  his  childhood's 
home,  and  the  scenes  of  his  early  ministry.  The 
name  of  Mr.  Harriman,  for  the  next  year,  is  in  con- 
nection with  the  Harford  Circuit,  in  Maryland. 
The  following  year,  he  is  at  Frederick  and  Annap- 
olis, and  in  1807,  he  is  appointed  to  the  Baltimore 
Circuit,  on  which  he  closes  his  labors  as  an  effective 
minister.  The  remaining  eleven  years  of  his  life, 
he  sustained  a  superannuated  relation. 

During  the  four  years  of  his  connection  with  the 
Church  in  Kentucky,  he  was  in  labors  abundant, 
and  his  ministry  greatly  blessed.  He  participated 
in  the  glorious  revivals  that  spread  over  the  State 
during  that  period. 

The  precise  date  of  his  death  is  not  given.  It 
occurred  in  1818.     His  biographer  says,  in  1807, 


294  METHODISM 

while  he  was  traveling  on  the  Baltimore  Circuit, 
"he  w^as  suddenly  seized  with  a  paralytic  stroke, 
under  the  following  circumstances:  When  on  his 
way  from  a  friend's  house  to  one  of  his  appoint- 
ments, he  met  a  boy,  of  whom  he  attempted  to  ask 
the  way  to  his  appointment,  and  found  his  tongue 
refused  obedience  to  his  volition,  whereby  he  was 
rendered  incapable  of  speech.  The  progress  of  the 
disease  w^as  farther  evinced  by  his  glove  falling  from 
his  hand,  contrary  to  his  wishes,  into  a  stream  of 
water,  while  his  horse  was  drinking ;  to  prevent  the 
final  loss  of  which,  he  dismounted,  with  a  view  to 
stop  its  farther  progress  down  the  stream ;  to  effect 
which,  he  attempted  to  leap  across  a  small  rivulet, 
and  fell  into  it,  whose  banks  concealed  him  from 
the  observation  of  travelers  on  the  road,  and  which, 
but  for  the  presence  of  his  horse  exciting  curiosity, 
would  probably  have  been  the  spot  of  his  dissolu- 
tion— from  which  attack  he  never  fully  recovered. 
This,  with  a  combination  of  other  diseases,  termi- 
nated in  his  dissolution. 

"  Through  the  whole  period  of  his  last  illness,  he 
testified  that  he  had  no  fear  of  death. 

"His  wife  and  family  lay  with  considerable  weight 
on  his  mind,  but  he  was  soon  enabled  to  resign 
them  into  the  hands  of  his  Heavenly  Father.  A 
few  days  previous  to  his  dissolution,  when  visited 
by  a  friend,  he  found  his  mind  serene  and  tranquil ; 
and  a  few  moments  before  his  death,  he  gave  to  a 
relation  the  most  satisfoctory  evidence  of  his  prepa- 
ration for  the  important  change,  and  bade  the  world 
a  final  adieu. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  295 

"  Hezekiah  Hammau  was  sound  in  the  faith,  and 
a  good  and  useful  minister  of  Jesus  Christ."* 

John  Sale,  who  also  accompanied  Mr.  Burke  to 
Kentucky  this  year,  was  born  in  the  State  of  Vir- 
ginia, on  the  24th  of  April,  1769.  When  about 
twenty  years  of  age,  he  was  awakened  and  con- 
verted to  God. 

In  1796,  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  entered 
the  itinerant  field. 

From  the  Conference  of  1796,  he  was  appointed 
to  the  Swanino  Circuit,  lying  in  the  sparsely  popu- 
lated settlements  of  Virginia.  His  second  circuit 
was  the  Bertie,  and  the  following  year  he  traveled 
on  the  Mattamuskeet  Circuit — both  in  iN'orth  Caro- 
lina ;  and  in  1799,  he  is  placed  in  charge  of  the  Hol- 
ston  and  Russell  Circuit,  in  Virginia. 

In  the  spring  of  1800,  he  enters  upon  his  work 
in  Kentucky,  in  charge  of  the  Salt  Kiver  and  Shelby 
Circuit,  to  which  he  was  appointed  at  the  Confer- 
ence held  in  October. 

At  the  Conference  of  1801,  he  was  placed  on  the 
Danville  Circuit,  where  he  remained  until  the  Con- 
ference of  1802. 

At  the  close  of  his  labors  on  the  Danville  Circuit, 
he  was  sent  to  the  North-western  Territory,  and  sta- 
tioned on  the  Scioto  Circuit,  and  the  following  year 
on  the  Miami. 

In  1804,  he  was  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  ap- 
pointed to  the  Lexington  Circuit.     From  1805  to 

*  General  Minutes,  Vol,  I.,  p.  309.  It  will  be  perceived  that  we 
do  not  follow  the  Minutes,  in  the  biographical  sketch  they  contain, 
in  giving  a  list  of  his  appointments,  as  they  are  certainly  inaccurate. 


296  METHODISM 

1808 — three  years — we  iind  him  on  the  Ohio  Dis- 
trict, and  in  charge  of  the  Miami  District  in  1808 
and  1809. 

The  following  four  years,  lie  presides  over  the 
Kentucky  District,  having  associated  with  him  such 
men  as  Charles  Holiday,  Henry  McDaniel,  John 
Johnson,  Marcus  Lindsey,  Thomas  D.  Porter,  Jon- 
athan Stamper,  William  McMahon,  and  Benjamin 
Lakin — whose  names  are  a  tower  of  strength,  and 
around  whose  labors  gather  so  many  pleasant  mem- 
ories, as  will  more  fully  appear  in  our  next  volume. 

At  the  Conference  of  1814,  we  find  him  again  on 
the  Miami  District,  on  which  he  remains  two  years. 
Unable  to  perform  the  labors  of  a  District,  at  the 
Conference  of  1816  he  w^as  appointed  to  the  Union 
Circuit,  and  the  following  year  to  the  Mad  River — 
both  in  Ohio. 

In  1818,  he  again  has  charge  of  the  Miami  Dis- 
trict. Worn  down  by  the  excessive  labors  he  had 
performed,  through  twenty  years  of  incessant  toil, 
on  fields  remarkable  for  the  vastness  of  the  territory 
over  which  they  spread,  in  1820  he  was  compelled  to 
ask  for  a  superannuated  relation  to  the  Conference. 
In  this  relation  he  served  the  Church,  as  his  health 
would  permit,  until  1824,  when  be  was  again  placed 
on  the  efifective  roll,  and  appointed  to  the  Wilming- 
ton Circuit. 

In  1825,  he  traveled  the  Union,  and  in  1826,  the 
Piqua  Circuit,  where  he  closed  his  useful  and  labo- 
rious life. 

The  Hon.  John  McLean,  of  Ohio,  says,  in  refer- 
ence to  him : 


IN     KENTUCKY.  297 

"He  was  a  man  of  fine  presence,  of  erect  and 
manly  form,  and  of  great  personal  dignity.  He  was 
naturally  of  a  social  turn,  and  had  excellent  powers 
of  conversation,  though  nothing  ever  fell  from  his 
lips  that  even  approached  to  levity.  He  always  con- 
versed on  subjects  of  interest  and  utility,  and  very 
frequently  on  matters  connected  with  his  ministe- 
rial labors.  I  w^as  always  struck  with  the  excellent 
judgment  and  accurate  discrimination  which  he 
evinced  in  his  social  intercourse. 

"  His  mind  could  not  be  said  to  be  brilliant,  and 
yet  he  sometimes  produced  a  very  powerful  effect 
by  his  preaching.  His  distinct  enunciation,  earnest 
manner,  and  appropriate  and  well-digested  thoughts, 
always  secured  to  him  the  attention  of  his  audience ; 
but  I  have  sometimes  heard  him  when,  rising  with 
the  dignity  and  in  the  fullness  of  his  subject,  he 
seemed  to  me  one  of  the  noblest  personifications  of 
the  eloquence  of  the  pulpit.  His  Avords  were  never 
hurried — they  were  always  uttered  calmly  and  de- 
liberately. Without  the  least  tendency  to  extrava- 
gance or  undue  excitement,  there  was  still  a  luster 
in  his  eye,  and  a  general  lighting  up  of  his  features, 
that  revealed  the  workings  of  the  spirit  within.  In 
some  of  his  more  felicitous  efforts,  I  think  I  have 
heard  him  with  as  much  interest  as  I  have  heard 
any  other  man ;  and  I  never  heard  him  without 
being  deeply  impressed  with  the  conviction  that, 
among  all  the  men  known  to  me  at  that  early  pe- 
riod, I  should  have  selected  him  as  the  man  to  fill 
up,  under  all  circumstances,  the  measure  of  his 
duty. 


298  METHODISM 

"  Mr.  Sale's  life  was  an  eminently  useful  one,  and 
he  adorned  every  relation  that  he  sustained,  and 
every  sphere  that  he  occupied.  Whether  as  preacher 
or  pastor,  as  minister  in  charge  or  Presiding  Elder, 
he  was  always  intent  upon  the  faithful  discharge  of 
his  duty,  and  always  approved  himself  to  those 
among  whom  he  ministered  as  '  a  workman  that  need- 
eth  not  to  be  ashamed.'  His  character  was  so  pure 
that  every  one  felt  that  it  was  formed  by  a  close 
conformity  to  the  Divine  Model.  His  mission  on 
earth  was  emphatically  a  mission  of  benevolence  to 
the  world  which  his  Master  came  to  save  ;  and  when 
that  mission  was  accomplished,  he  finished  his 
course  with  joy."* 

"On  the  15th  of  January,  1827,  while  on  the 
Piqua  Circuit,  at  the  house  of  his  friend  and 
brother,  Mr.  French,  he  was  called  to  yield  up  his 
spirit  into  the  hands  of  God.  We  visited  him  a 
day  or  two  before  his  death,  and  although  his  suf- 
ferings were  intense,  yet  he  had  great  peace  in  be- 
lievinoc.  His  faith  enabled  him  to  behold  the  land 
that  was  afar  off,  and  to  rejoice  in  the  sight  of  his 
distant  heavenly  home.  He  was  frequently  heard 
to  say,  '  I  am  nearing  my  home.  My  last  battle  is 
fought,  and  the  victory  sure !  Hallelujah !  My 
Saviour  reigneth  over  heaven  and  earth  most  glo- 
rious !  Praise  the  Lord  ! '  On  my  second  visit,  we 
were  accompanied  by  Col.  William  McLean,  one  of 
his  warm  personal  friends.  We  found  him  very 
happy — just  on  the  verge  of  heaven.     When,  on 

*Spraguo's  Annals  of  tho  American  IMetliodist  Pnlpit,  pp.  257,  258. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  299 

rising  to  leave,  we  took  his  hand,  and  bade  him 
farewell,  he  said,  'My  son,  be  faithful,  and  you 
shall  have  a  crown  of  life.'  We  left  the  dying  her- 
ald of  the  cross  strong  in  faith,  giving  glory  to  God 
for  a  religion  that 

"  '  Can  make  a  dying-bed 
Feel  soft  as  downy  pillows  are, 
While  on  his  breast  he  leaned  his  head, 
And  breathed  his  life  out  sweetly  there.' 

"Worn  down  with  the  toils  and  sufferings,  as  the 
necessary  and  always  concomitant  attendants  of  an 
itinerant  life,  he  was  ready  and  prepared  to  enter 
into  the  rest  of  heaven. 

"  '  Servant  of  God,  well  done. 
Rest  from  thy  loved  employ  ; 
The  battle  's  fought,  the  vict'ry  won. 
Enter  thy  Master's  joy.' 

"  Brother  Sale  was  about  'G.ve  feet  ten  inches  high, 
of  great  symmetry  of  form,  dignified  and  courteous 
in  his  manners.  He  had  a  dark  eye,  which,  when 
lighted  up  with  the  gospel  themes,  would  flash  its 
fires  of  holy  passion,  and  melt  at  the  recital  of  a 
Saviour's  love.  But  he  has  gone  where  anxiety, 
and  toil,  and  tears  come  not."  * 

We  love  to  linger  around  the  memory  of  such  a 
man  as  John  Sale.  During  the  eight  years  in  which 
he  labored  in  Kentucky,  by  the  urbanity  of  his 
manners,  and  his  devotion  to  his  calling,  he  won, 

*  Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,  pp.  190,  191. 


300  METHODISM 

not  only  upon  the  affections  of  the  Church,  but  the 
admiration  of  the  people.  The  four  years  in  which 
he  had  charge  of  the  Kentucky  District,  he  exhib- 
ited those  high  executive  qualities  so  essential  to 
usefulness  and  success  in  the  office  of  Presiding 
Elder.  In  the  early  part  of  his  connection  with 
Methodism  in  Kentucky,  he  took  an  active  part  in 
the  great  revivals. 

He  was  among  the  first  preachers  from  Kentucky 
who  bore  the  tidings  of  a  Redeemer's  love  across 
the  beautiful  Ohio.  lie  organized  the  first  society 
of  Methodists  in  Cincinnati,  while  traveling  the 
Miami  Circuit,  "  consisting  of  the  following  eight 
members,  namely,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carter,  their  son 
and  daughter,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gibson,  and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  St.  Clair.  Mr.  Gibson  was  appointed  the 
leader."  * 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Hinde,  in  speaking  of  Mr.  Sale, 
and  his  preaching  in  Cincinnati,  says:  "It  was  as 
late  as  the  mouth  of  August,  1803,  that  I  had  the 
satisfaction  of  hearing  the  first  sermon  ever  preached 
by  a  Methodist  preacher  in  the  now  flourishing 
town  of  Cincinnati,  in  Ohio — with,  perhaps,  the 
exception  of  a  sermon  in  the  vicinity  preached  by 
Mr.  Kobler.  The  sermon  to  which  I  allude  was 
preached  by  Mr.  John  Sale.  His  circuit  then  em- 
braced Avhat  now  comprehends  nearly  three  Presid- 
ing Elders'  Districts  in  extent  of  territory."  f 

The  name  of  Jonathan  Kidwell  only  appears  in 

*  Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,  p.  108. 
f  Methodist  Magazine,  Vol.  II.,  p.  396. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  301 

the  list  of  Appointments  for  tins  session  of  the  Con- 
ference. He  is  appointed,  with  John  Sale,  to  the 
Salt  River  and  Shelby  Circuit.  ]^o  memento  is  left 
us,  from  which  we  can  learn  when  he  was  admitted 
on  trial,  or  when  he  ceased  his  labors  as  an  itin- 
erant. 

It  will  be  perceived  that,  up  to  this  date,  we  have 
taken  no  account  of  any  membership  we  may  have 
had  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  State. 

From  1787  to  the  Conference  of  1796,  the  only 
identity  Methodism  could  claim  in  Southern  Ken- 
tucky was  in  connection  with  the  Cumberland  Cir- 
cuit, which  included  the  settlements  of  Logan  and 
what  is  now  Simpson  counties. 

In  1796,  the  Logan  Circuit  was  formed,  to  which 
Aquila  Sugg  was  appointed ;  but,  at  the  ensuing 
Conference,  there  was  no  report  of  the  membership 
it  embraced,  and  it  was  again  thrown  into  the  Cum- 
berland Circuit,  in  which  it  remained  until  the  for- 
mation of  the  Eed  Eiver  Circuit,  in  1802. 

'No  change  in  the  membership  in  Kentucky  is  re- 
ported in  the  Minutes  for  this  year.  The  statistics 
had  not  been  furnished  for  record. 


102  METHODISM 


CHAPTER   XII. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  HELD  AT  BETHEL  ACADEMY,  OC^ 
TOBER  6,  1800,  TO  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1801.   / 

Representative  women — Mrs.  Lydia  Wickliffe — Mrs.  Sally  Helm — 
Mrs.  Sarah  Stevenson — Mrs.  Mary  Davis — Mrs.  Elizabeth  Durl)in 
— Mrs.  Jane  Hardin — Mrs.  Jane  Stamper — Mrs.  Mary  T.  Hinde — 
Conference  held  October  6,  1800,  the  second  in  Kentucky  for  ihis 
year — Bishops  Asbury  and  Whatcoat  present — The  Conference 
Journal — William  McKendree — Lewis  Hunt — William  Marsh — 
The  spread  of  the  great  revival — Ilai  Nunn — Major  John  Martin 
— Dr.  Hinde — Increase  of  membership. 

In  the  former  chapter  we  have  referred  to  the  effi- 
cient aid  that  was  rendered  by  the  local  preachers 
in  planting  and  nourishing  the  Church. 

Another  element  that  contributed  largelj^  to  give 
it  permanence  in  Kentuclr^,  was  the  accession  to 
its  communion  of  many  of  the  most  remarkable 
women  of  that  period. 

As  has  been  beautifully  said,  "Woman  was  last  at 
the  cross,  and  first  at  the  sepulcher ;  and  in  every 
age,  in  most  communities  where  the  truths  of 
the  Christian  religion  have  been  presented,  she 
has  been  the  first  to  embrace  them.  Indebted 
as  she  is  for  her  social  elevation  to  the  teachino^s  of 
the  Bible,  woman  has,  in  all  countries  where  the 
opportunity  has  offered,  shown  her  high  apprecia- 
tion of  the  doctrines  of  the  cross,  by  bowing  in 


IN    KENTUCKY.  303 

reverence  before  it,  and  acknowledging  the  suprem- 
acy of  the  Saviour. 

It  was  so  in  the  introduction  of  Methodism  into 
Kentucky.  While  many  of  the  finest  intellects 
amonor  the  men  in  the  District  had  become  con- 
nected  with  the  Methodist  Church,  yet,  in  the 
organization  of  the  societies,  they  were  generally 
preceded  by  the  women.  If  the  men  of  that  period 
vere  hardy,  chivalrous,  and  brave,  they  did  not 
surpass  their  wives  in  those  noble  qualities  of  en- 
durance, of  patience,  and  of  intrepidity.  While 
woman's  sphere  entailed  upon  her  the  holy  duties 
of  home,  it  was  not  unfrequent  that  her  safety 
levied  contributions  upon  her  valor,  and  placed  her 
side  by  side  with  her  gallant  husband  or  father,  with 
gan  in  hand,  against  the  white  man's  foe.  The 
page  of  history  nowhere  records  deeds  of  daring 
wore  noble  than  those  performed  by  the  pioneer 
women  of  Kentucky. 

It  is,  however,  in  her  character  as  a  Christian, 
that  she  shines  with  the  brightest  luster.  The 
Christian  woman  is  to  her  husband  and  her  children 
the  softener  of  their  sorrows  and  the  soother  of 
their  cares,  the  guardian  angel  that  keeps  unceasing 
vigils  over  the  interests  of  her  home ;  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  she  resides,  shedding  a  holy  influ- 
ence, that  checks  the  vanities  of  the  gay,  and 
administers  sweet  consolation  to  the  sorrowing  and 
the  sad. 

Among  the  early  women  of  Kentucky,  Method- 
ism numbered  many  vv'ho  were  remarkable  for  all 
those  excellent  traits  of  character  that  have,  in  all 


304  METHODISM 

Christian  countries,  ennobled  their  sex.  Patient  in 
suffering,  encountering  dangers  undaunted,  submit- 
ting to  the  privations  of  pioneer  life  without  a 
murmur,  unswervingly  devoted  to  the  cause  of 
Christianity,  "  adorned  in  modest  apparel — not  with 
broidered  hair,  or  gold,  or  pearls,  or  costly  array — 
but,  which  becometh  women  possessing  godliness, 
with  good  works,"  they  set  before  the  community 
examples  of  piety,  and  used  every  proper  exertion 
to  elevate  the  standard  of  religion.  "While  hun- 
dreds of  men  had  become  seduced  from  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Bible,  and  been  led  away  from  the 
only  Rock  of  salvation,  by  the  teachings  of  infidel- 
ity, those  Christian  women  adhered  more  closely  to 
the  cause  of  the  Eedeemer — the  only  hope  of  the 
world.  They  exhibited  in  their  "  daily  walk  aid 
conversation"  the  sincerity  of  their  profession,  and 
in  their  death  reposed  their  hope  of  immortality 
upon  the  many  "  exceeding  great  and  preciais 
promises  "  of  the  word  of  God. 

They  left,  too,  their  impress  on  society,  not  aily 
by  restraining  vice,  but  by  the  promotion  of  viTtue 
and  religion ;  and,  in  the  quietude  of  their  own 
homes,  trained  for  future  usefulness  their  sons — 
many  of  whom  have  filled  prominent  positions  in 
Church  and  State ;  and  their  daughters,  who  have 
adorned  society  by  their  charms,  and  blessed  it  by 
the  beauties  and  graces  of  Christianity. 

Their  names  and  their  memories  oue:ht  not  to  be 
forgotten. 

Among  the  many  whose  memory  is  too  dear  to 
Kentucky  Methodism  to  be  allowed  to  fade  away, 


IN     KENTUCKY.  305 

we  take  pleasure  in  mentioning  the  name  of  Mrs. 
Lydia  Wickliffe.* 

Mrs.  Wicklifte  was  the  daughter  of  Martin  Har- 
din, of  Fauquier  county,  Virginia,  and  the  sister 
of  CoL  John  Hardin,  to  whose  tragical  fate  we  have 
already  referred. 

In  1784,  Mr.  Charles  Wickliffe,  (her  husband,) 
with  his  wife  and  five  children,  removed  from  Vir- 
ginia to  Kentucky,  and  settled  in  that  part  of  'Nel- 
son county  now  in  the  county  of  Marion. 

In  early  life  Mrs.  Wickliffe  became  impressed 
upon  the  subject  of  religion,  and,  before  leaving 
Virginia,  attached  herself  to  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. A  few  years  after  her  removal  to  Kentucky, 
under  the  labors  of  the  early  preachers,  a  society — 
one  of  the  first  established  in  the  District — was 
organized  in  the  neighborhood  in  which  her  hus- 
band had  settled,  and  a  log  church  erected,  known 
for  many  years  afterward  as  Thomas's  Meeting- 
house. 

Entertaining  a  high  regard  for  the  Church  she 
had  joined  in  Virginia,  she  nevertheless  felt  unwil- 
ling to  be  deprived  of  the  privileges  of  Christian 
communion,  and  hence  she  was  among  the  first  to 
become  connected  with  that  society,  in  which  she 
lived  in  Christian  fellowship  until  she  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Church  above. 

Ardent  in  her  piety,  the  peculiar  doctrines  of 
Divine  influence,  and  the  witness  of  the  Spirit,  ac- 

■^  Iklrs.  Lydia  Wickliffe  was  the  mother  of  the  Hon.  Charles  A. 
"WicklifFe,  ex-Governor  of  Kentucky ;  and  the  grandmother  of  the 
Hon.  Robert  C.  Wickliffe,  ex-Governor  of  Louisiana. 


306  METHODISM 

cording,  as  they  did,  with  her  own  religious  experi- 
ence, embalmed  in  her  affections  ''  the  Church  in 
the  wilderness,"  and  endeared  to  her  heart  that  sys- 
tem of  Christianity  so  consonant  with  religious 
truth.  Her  attachment  to  the  Church  continued  to 
increase  with  every  succeeding  year  of  her  life, 
while  her  Christian  character  developed  new  beau- 
ties, and  her  holy  walk  shed  a  luster  on  the  profes- 
sion she  had  made,  until  the  period  arrived  for  the 
termination  of  the  battle  in  which  she  was  engaged, 
and  then,  in  Christian  triumph,  she  passed  away  to 
the  home  of  the  redeemed. 

The  personal  appearance  of  Mrs.  Wickliffe  was 
good,  her  height  above  ordinary.  Possessed  of  ^ne 
common  sense,  without  the  advantages  of  superior 
education,  yet  favored  with  the  best  the  country 
afforded,  her  mind  stored  with  useful  knowledge, 
she  often  performed  the  duties  of  physician  to  the 
sick.  Benevolent  to  the  poor,  kind  and  liberal  to 
all,  she  was  frequently  found  in  the  homes  of  sor- 
row and  of  suffering.  One  practice  from  which  she 
never  deviated,  was  the  strict  religious  observance 
of  old  Christmas  -  day.  Beneath  her  hospitable 
roof  the  weary  itinerant  always  found  a  welcome 
and  a  shelter.  Ogden,  Wilson  Lee,  and  McKendree 
knew  her  well. 

In  her  own  home,  however,  her  Christian  char- 
acter shone  more  brightly  than  anywhere  else.  In- 
dustrious and  frugal,  she  impressed  these  virtues  on 
the  minds  of  her  children.  A  sincere  Christian 
and  a  strict  observer  of  the  Sabbath,  it  was  the 
great  aim  of  her  life  to  persuade  tliem  to  follow  her 


IN     KENTUCKY.  307 

example.  She  lived  to  see  her  children  grown,  and 
prosperous,  and  happy,  and  the  most  of  them  con- 
verted to  God. 

Her  last  interview  with  her  yuangest  son*  was 
deeply  affecting.  It  was  in  1828,  when  he  was  about 
to  leave  for  Washington  City.  He  visited  her,  that 
he  might  bid  her  farew^ell.  Always  attentive  to  her 
interest,  he  desired  the  blessing  once  more  of  so 
good  a  mother.  The  time  for  parting  came.  She 
held  him  by  the  hand,  and  bequeathed  to  him  the 
last  blessing  of  a  dying  Christian  mother. 

She  lived  but  a  short  time  after  this  interview. 
In  a  few  weeks  she  died  in  the  full  enjoyment  of 
that  faith  which  she  had  professed  during  a  long 
life,  trusting  implicitly  in  the  teachings  of  the  Bible, 
which  was  her  great  book,  and  which  she  constantly 
read. 

Mrs.  Sally  Helm,  who  was  born  about  the  year 
1781,  was  the  adopted  daughter  of  Bazil  and  Mary 
Brown,  of  Nelson  (now  Marion)  county,  Kentucky. 

On  the  22d  of  March,  1T87,  she  was  happily  mar- 
ried to  John  Helm,  in  Hay  craft's  Fort,  adjoining 
Elizabeth  town. 

In  the  year  1788,  she  attached  herself  to  the 
Methodist  Church,  at  Thomas's  Meeting-house, 
when  there  were  only  about  ninety  members  in  the 
District  of  Kentucky. 

Her  husband  was  born  in  Prince  William  county, 
Virginia,  and  had  emigrated  to  Kentucky  in  the 
fall  of  1779.    He  had  passed  through  those  thrilling 

*  Hon.  Charles  A.  Wickliffe. 


308  METHODISM 

scenes  of  anguish  and  of  blood,  in  Indian  warfare, 
the  bare  recital  of  which,  even  at  the  present  time, 
is  so  heart-rending. 

In  1791,  he  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  St.  Clair's 
memorable  and  disastrous  campaign,  in  which  he 
received  a  severe  wound,  shattering  one  of  the 
bones  in  the  left  arm,  from  the  wrist  to  the  elbow. 
In  this  condition  he  clung  to  his  faithful  rifle  with 
the  true  feelings  and  spirit  of  a  backwoodsman — a 
treasure  to  be  parted  w^ith  only  in  death — and  kept 
np  with  his  retreating  comrades,  making  the  dis- 
tance of  more  than  thirty  miles  a  day. 

Living  in  these  perilous  times,  and  with  a  popu- 
lation in  Kentucky  insufficient  to  protect  the  fron- 
tier, continually  exposed  to  danger  from  the  ruthless 
savage,  Mrs.  Helm,  in  early  life,  evinced  that  Spar- 
tan courage  that  so  eminently  distinguished  the 
pioneer  women  of  Kentucky. 

Having  joined  the  Church  when  only  fifteen  years 
of  age,  and  becoming  familiar  with  its  doctrines  and 
its  polity,  with  all  the  earnestness  of  a  warm  heart 
sanctified  by  grace,  she  fully  embraced  the  former, 
and  approved  of  the  latter.  As  well  educated  in 
early  life  as  was  practicable,  and  availing  herself  of 
all  the  facilities  within  her  grasp,  she  made  all  her 
advantages  subservient  to  the  cause  of  truth.  For 
sixty-five  years  she  bore  the  Christian's  cross,  openly 
and  everywhere  professing  an  interest  in  the  Re- 
deemer, and  on  all  proper  occasions  presenting  the 
claims  and  the  hopes  of  Christianity  to  others.  She 
was  a  burning  and  a  shining  light,  reflecting  upon 
others  the  savor  of  a  holy  life. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  309 

111  the  year  1824,  her  husband  settled  in  Eliza- 
bethtown,  Kentucky,  where  she  immediately  asso- 
ciated herself  with  the  small  class,  then  in  its 
infancy,  in  that  place.  Her  agreeable  manners, 
added  to  her  fervent  piety,  contributed  much  to  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  Church  where  she 
resided. 

Her  husband  was  not  a  member  of  the  Church. 
Having  in  his  home  so  bright  an  example  of  Chris- 
tianity, he  nevertheless  ignored  the  claims  of  reli- 
gion, and  rested  apparently  contented  with  external 
conformity  to  the  teachings  of  the  moral  law.  De- 
scended from  two  of  the  best  families  in  the  State, 
participating  extensively  in  those  wars  which  recov- 
ered Kentucky  from  Indian  depredations,  the  pos- 
sessor of  an  ample  fortune,  and,  in  an  important 
sense,  the  friend  of  mankind,  he  seemed  indifferent 
to  the  sanctions  of  the  Bible. 

The  heart  of  his  pious  wife  was  deeply  touched 
at  this  neglect  of  an  interest  so  vital.  The  continual 
falling  of  a  rain-drop  on  the  flinty  rock  will  finally 
leave  its  impression.  The  sincere  prayers  and  holy 
life  of  Mrs.  Helm  could  not  fail  to  exert  a  salu- 
tary influence  on  her  husband.  In  the  seventy- 
second  year  of  his  age,  he  joined  the  Church  with 
his  wife,  having  professed  religion  a  short  time  pre- 
viously. Their  children,  too — six  in  number — had 
embraced  the  Saviour.  The  cup  of  her  joy  was 
now  full. 

Seven  years  later,  the  arm  which  had  protected 
and  sustained  her  was  palsied  in  death.  His  end 
was  peaceful. 


310  METHODISM 

On  Wednesday,  the  19tli  of  January,  1853,  she 
breathed  her  last,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  her  age. 
For  the  last  seventeen  years  of  her  life  she  was  a 
cripple,  from  the  effects  of  a  fall,  yet  her  remark- 
ably fine  sense  and  buoyant  disposition,  united  with 
her  ardent  piety,  drew  around  her  a  host  of  friends 
and  admirers. 

Having  sustained  in  the  most  exemplary  manner 
the  various  relations  of  wife,  mother,  neighbor,  and 
servant  of  God,  and  filled  her  well-appointed  time, 
like  a  shock  fally  ripe,  she  was  gathered  to  her 
people  in  peace.  She  has  left  a  numerous  band  of 
descendants,  in  the  second,  third,  and  fourth  gen- 
erations, many  of  whom  are  members  of  the 
Church. 

Among  the  representative  women  of  Methodism 
in  Kentucky,  at  this  early  period,  we  record  the 
name  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Stevenson,  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Stevenson. 

She  was  born  in  Frederick  county,  in  Maryland, 
in  1756,  and,  in  the  twelfth  year  of  her  age,  under 
the  preaching  of  Robert  Strawbridge,  was  awakened 
and  converted  to  God. 

In  advance  of  the  first  missionaries,  her  husband 
emigrated  to  the  District  of  Kentucky,  and  was  here 
to  ofier  to  those  men  of  God  the  first  welcome  to 
the  hospitalities  of  their  home.  They  located  in 
Mason  count}^,  at  what  was  called  Kenton's  Station, 
about  six  miles  south-west  of  Maysville.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  frequency  of  the  Indian  massacres, 
they  remained  inside  this  fortress  for  some  time. 
No  family  settlements  could  yet  be  made.     Thus 


IN     KENTUCKY.  311 

confined  and  exposed  to  danger,  the  hardships  they 
endured  can  scarcely  be  imagined. 

Mr.  Stevenson,  though  a  member  of  the  Church, 
and  a  strict  observer  of  its  rules,  made  no  open  pro- 
fession of  religion  until  near  the  close  of  his  life. 
Devoted,  however,  to  its  interests,  he  threw  open 
the  doors  of  his  hospitable  home;  and  from  the 
arrival  of  Messrs.  Haw  and  Ogden,  in  1786,  until 
his  death,  his  house  was  a  regular  preaching-place 
for  the  traveling  ministers  of  the  Methodist  Con- 
nection. Beneath  their  roof  McKendree,  Burke, 
Northcutt,  Eay,  O'Cull,  Sale,  and  others,  often 
found  a  place  of  rest. 

During  the  period  of  a  long  life,  the  piety  and 
zeal  of  Mrs.  Stevenson  shone  with  undiminished 
luster.  In  her  home,  amongst  her  neighbors,  and 
in  the  house  of  God,  everyw^here,  as  a  Christian  she 
had  but  few^  equals.  Her  love  to  the  Church  was  only 
equaled  by  the  sweetness  of  her  temper  and  her 
interest  in  the  religious  welfare  of  her  children.  On 
the  27th  of  May,  1828,  she  breathed  her  last. 
"Amid  the  tears  and  lamentations  of  friends  and 
relations,  her  remains  were  deposited  in  the  family 
burying-ground."  Upon  the  marble  slab  that  stands 
at  the  head  of  her  grave,  is  the  following  epitaph, 
inscribed  by  her  son,  the  Eev.  Edward  Stevenson, 
D.D. :  "  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Sarah  Stevenson, 
who  was  born  October  7,  1756 ;  embraced  religion 
and  joined  the  Methodist  Church  in  1768 ;  and  after 
having  lived  the  gospel  for  more  than  half  a  century, 
died  in  peace.  May  27,  1828.  The  righteous  shall 
shine  as  the  sun  in  the  firmament."     Amone:  her 


312  METHODISM 

descendants  the  Church  has  been  blessed  with 
several  enterprising  and  usefnl  ministers. 

Mrs.  Mary  Davis  was  among  the  first  to  con- 
nect herself  with  the  Methodist  Church  in  Ken- 
tucky. She  was  the  daughter  of  Stephen  and 
Molly  Fisher,  who  emigrated  from  Virginia  to 
Kentucky  about  the  year  1776,  and  established  a 
fort,  about  one  mile  from  Danville,  which,  for  many 
years,  was  known  as  ^'Fisher's  Station."  In  1783, 
under  the  preaching  of  Francis  Clark,  she  became 
awakened,  and  immediately  connected  herself  with 
the  first  society  organized  in  the  District.  Early  in 
the  present  century,  with  her  husband,  she  removed 
to  Union  county,  where  she  continued  to  reside 
until  a  short  time  previous  to  her  death.  The  last 
few  months  of  her  life  were  spent  at  the  residence 
of  her  son-in-law,  Lazarus  Powell,  senior,  in  Hen- 
derson county,  where,  on  the  2d  of  January,  1859, 
she  passed  away  from  earth,  in  the  ninety-seventh 
year  of  her  age,  and  having  been  for  seventy-five 
years  a  member  of  the  Church.  At  the  time  of  her 
death,  she  was  the  oldest  Methodist  in  Kentucky. 

Along  the  entire  pathway  of  life,  from  the  hour 
of  her  conversion,  her  interest  for  the  welfare  of  the 
Church,  and  the  success  of  Christianity,  continually 
increased.  Favored  with  an  intellect  remarkable 
for  its  strength — with  her  mind  well  cultivated,  un- 
impaired by  age,  and  richly  stored  with  the  events 
of  nearly  a  hundred  years,  the  intimate  friend  of 
Asbur}^,  McKcndrce,  and  other  early  preachers — 
perfectly  familiar  with  the  thrilling  events  of  the 
Revolution,  and  reared  amid  the  dangers  of  frontier 


IN    KENTUCKY, 


ai3 


life— an  active  participant  in  those  great  revivals 
that  favored  the  Church  at  cliiFerent  periods — and 
entirely  free  from  that  childishness  so  often  the  ac- 
companiment of  age — her  conversation,  both  to  the 
old  and  the  young,  Avas  of  a  most  instructive  and 
entertaining  character.  'No  subject,  however,  en- 
grossed her  thoughts  as  did  that  of  religion.  It  had 
guided  her  steps  in  early  life,  was  the  companion 
of  her  more  mature  years,  and  the  staff  on  which 
she  was  leaning,  now  the  "  almond-tree  was  flour- 
ishing," and  her  years  w^ere  being  numbered. 

A  few  weeks  previous  to  her  death,  in  apparent 
good  health,  after  a  free  conversation  on  the  subject 
of  religion,  she  informed  a  granddaughter  that  she 
should  die  in  a  short  time,  and  requested  her  to  pre- 
pare her  clothing  for  her  burial.  So  soon  as  the 
preparations  she  requested  were  made,  she  retired 
to  her  bed,  from  which  she  never  arose.  In  a  few 
days  her  spirit  was  with  God. 

She  retained  her  senses,  and  conversed  freely,  to 
the  last  moment,  speaking  of  death  as  the  harbin- 
ger of  a  bright  and  happy  eternity.* 

*  In  the  summer  of  1847,  while  in  charge  of  the  Smithland  Dis- 
trict, we  held  a  quarterly  meeting  in  the  Morganfield  Circuit,  of  which 
the  Rev.  J.  W.  Cunningham  had  charge.  Mrs.  Davis  was  sitting  in 
her  carriage,  on  the  skirt  of  the  congregation,  (the  service  being  in 
a  grove,)  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Yeager,  a  pious  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  When  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
was  administered,  the  elements  were  carried  to  Mrs.  Davis,  she  not 
being  able  to  get  from  her  carriage.  After  administering  to  her,  Mr. 
Cunningham  remarked  to  Mrs.  Yeager  that  he  would  not  offer  the 
elements  to  her,  as  for  her  to  partake  of  them  would  be  in  violation 
of  the  rules  of  her  Church.  She  promptly  replied  that  no  rules 
could  prevent  her  from  partaking  of  the  sacrament  with  her  aged 


314  METHODISM 

The  name  of  Elizabeth  Durbiii  deserves  a  con- 
spicuous place  among  the  representative  women  of 
Methodism  in  Kentucky.  She  was  not  only  familiar 
with  the  early  struggles  of  the  Church,  but  for  more 
than  fifty-six  years  she  was  identified  with  its  for- 
tunes. 

She  was  the  daughter  of  Ilai  I^Tunn,  and  was  born 
in  the  State  of  Georgia,  October  12, 1781.  In  1783, 
her  father  emigrated  to  Kentucky,  and  settled  in 
Bourbon  county. 

Before  he  came  to  Kentucky,  Mr.  N"unn  attached 
himself  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and,  in 
his  devotion  to  its  welfare  and  prosperity,  displayed 
a  remarkable  zeal.  Impressing  upon  the  minds  of 
his  children  the  obligations  of  religion,  his  daughter 
Elizabeth,  when  only  about  fifteen  years  of  age, 
was  awakened  and  converted  to  God. 

In  her  eighteenth  year,  she  was  married  to  Mr. 
Hosier  Durbin,  who  left  her,  at  his  death,  with  five 
children,  two  of  whom  became  distinguished  minis- 
ters of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1817,  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Clement  The- 
obald, and  removed  to  Grant  count}^,  Kentucky', 
where,  after  a  long  and  useful  life,  she  quietly 
breathed  her  last  on  the  20th  of  April,  1852. 

and  Christian  mother ;  and  then  she  partook  of  the  elements.  On 
the  following  Saturday,  she  was  arraigned  before  the  Baptist  Church 
for  the  offense ;  and  not  being  able  to  perceive  any  wrong  in  what 
she  had  done,  and  refusing  to  make  any  acknowledgments,  she  was 
allowed  four  weeks  for  consideration.  During  the  interim,  she  had 
an  opportunity  of  communing  with  the  Cumberland  rrcsbyterians, 
and  availing  herself  of  the  privilege,  no  farther  complaint  was  made 
by  her  Church. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  315 

Amons:  the  distineruished  women  of  the  Meth- 
odist  Church  in  Kentucky,  no  one  presented  a 
brighter  Christian  example  than  Mrs.  Durbin.  De- 
voted to  the  Church  of  her  choice,  as  well  as  to  the 
common  cause  of  Christianity,  she  contributed  the 
influence  of  a  holy  life  and  a  liberal  hand  to  pro- 
mote the  great  ends  of  religion.  Endowed  with 
an  intellect  of  a  superior  cast,  with  a  heart  sancti- 
fied by  grace,  and  with  an  inflexible  purpose  to 
accomplish  the  highest  aims  and  ends  of  life — 
whether  by  the  bedside  of  affliction,  or  in  her  own 
family  circle,  or  pouring  out  the  devotions  of  her 
heart  around  the  altars  of  the  Church — she  was 
everywhere  an  angel  of  mercy.  Through  many  years 
her  house  was  consecrated  to  God,  and  beneath  her 
hospitable  roof  the  faithful  minister  of  Christ  found 
a  w^elcome  and  a  place  of  rest. 

In  a  brief  biography,  written  by  her  pastor  soon 
after  her  death,  he  says:  "Many  there  are  who 
bless  God  that  she  ever  lived.  Her  place  in  the 
Church  and  family  circle  cannot  be  easily  filled.  In 
her  death  a  pillar  of  Christianity  has  been  broken, 
and  a  moral,  guiding  light  extinguished.  Her  chil- 
dren and  society  have  sustained  a  loss  that  time 
cannot  repair.  She  in  an  eminent  degree  trained 
up  her  children  in  the  way  they  should  go,  and  had 
,the  high  satisfaction  of  seeing  them  all  soundly 
converted,  and  exemplary  members  of  the  Church, 
while  two  of  them  became  eloquent  ministers  of 
the  gospel  of  Christ."* 


*  Nashville  Christian  Advocate,  July  15,  1852. 


316  METHODISM 

For  several  years  she  suffered  from  severe  afflio- 
tioD,  yet  her  last  attack,  a  disease  of  the  throat,  was 
brief.  After  a  few  days'  illness,  calmly  and  easily 
she  passed  away. 

"We  need  not  the  dying  testimony  of  the  servants 
of  God,  however  gratifying  it  may  be  to  catch  the 
last  words  of  triumph  that  may  fall  from  their  expir- 
ing lips — or  however  fondly  we  may  treasure  them  in 
our  hearts — to  satisfy  us  of  their  safe  entrance  into 
eternal  rest.  Unable  to  converse  during  her  illness, 
her  entire  life  having  shed  a  luster  on  her  profes- 
sion, her  death  could  not  be  otherwise  than  one  of 
victory.  She  passed  away  like  the  sun  which  sinks 
behind  the  western  hills,  "giving  a  sure  hope  of 
rising  in  brighter  array." 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  received  from 
her  son,  the  Eev.  John  P.  Durbin,  D.D.,  dated 
March  5, 1868,  in  answer  to  a  letter  of  inquirj^  which 
we  sent  him,  will  be  read  with  interest  : 

"I  have  no  family  records  within  my  reach,  and 
cannot  therefore  be  precise  in  regard  to  any  point. 
My  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Ilai  Nunn,  of  Bour- 
bon county,  Kentucky.  He  was  originally  from 
Georgia,  at  a  very  early  day,  when  the  Indians  were 
in  some  parts  of  Kentucky.  My  mother  was  born 
quite  as  early  as  1781,  perhaps  earlier.  Her  father's 
house  was  the  church  for  their  neighborhood.  My 
mother  early  became  pious.  By  her  first  husband 
she  had  five  children,  all  sons,  of  whom  I  was  the 
eldest.  Myself  and  my  brother  William  (third  son) 
arc  the  only  ones  living.  Her  first  husband  died 
about  1814;  and,  two  or  three  years  thereafter,  she 


IN     KENTUCKY.  317 

was  marriecl  to  Mr.  Theobald,  of  Grant  countj^, 
Kcutucky.  A  son  and  a  daughter  were  the  fruit  of 
that  marriage.  The  son  is  dead,  but  the  daughter — 
now  Mrs.  Say  res,  of  Grant  county — is  still  living, 
and  is  the  mother  of  a  large  family  of  children. 
My  youngest  brother,  Hosier  J.  Durbin,  after  whom 
you  inquire,  was  a  traveling  preacher  at  his  death, 
which  happened  more  than  twenty  years  ago,  in 
Indiana.  He  was  killed  in  a  storm,  by  the  limb  of 
a  tree  falling  on  him,  as  he  rode  homeward.  He 
was  in  the  service  of  the  American  Bible  Society  at 
the  time,  and  was  an  energetic  man,  and,  I  have 
been  told,  a  powerful  preacher.  His  widow  and 
children  (three  girls  and  two  boys)  still  survive. 

"  I  forgot  to  say,  my  mother's  house  was  a  church, 
where  the  ministers  preached,  and  found  a  home, 
when  passing  or  resting,  during  her  second  mar- 
riage. I  wish  I  could  write  more  satisfactorily 
about  a  mother  whom  I  reverenced  and  loved  so 
dearly." 

Another  name  that  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in 
planting  Methodism  in  Kentucky,  and  in  watching 
its  growth  in  the  years  of  its  infancy,  is  that  of 
Mrs.  Jane  Hardin,  the  wife  of  Col.  John  Hardin,  to 
whom  we  have  made  previous  reference.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  iTathanael  Davies,  was  born  in  1750, 
and  brought  up  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  on  the 
Monongahela.  Her  grandparents  were  from  Wales. 
On  reaching  Kentucky,  in  1786,  Col.  Hardin  settled 
near  Sandusky  Station,  a  few  miles  from  Spring- 
field. In  Pennsylvania,  Mrs.  Hardin  had  been  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


318  METHODISM 

Amongst  the  early  societies  planted  in  Kentucky, 
there  was  one  at  Josiah  Wilson's,  on  Pleasant  Run, 
and  another  at  John  Springer's,  about  two  and  a 
half  miles  from  the  former  place.  Very  soon  after 
their  settlement  in  Kentucky,  Col.  Hardin  and  his 
wife  both  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  Sandusky  Station,  now  Pleasant  Pun. 

When  at  home,  from  the  time  he  connected  him- 
self with  the  Church,  until  the  hour  of  his  depart- 
ure on  the  mission  which  made  his  wife  a  widow 
and  his  children  orphans,  at  morning  and  at  night, 
he  regularly  called  his  family  around  the  altar  of 
prayer,  and  commended  them  to  the  care  of  Jeho- 
vah. In  his  absence,  while  living,  and  after  his 
death,  Mrs.  Hardin  knelt,  with  her  children,  as  had 
her  husband,  around  the  same  altar,  for  worship. 
On  all  the  public  means  of  grace  she  faithfully  at- 
tended. In  the  places  of  public  worship,  the  prayer- 
meeting,  and  the  class,  she  was  always  found,  unless 
providentially  hindered.  In  her  private  devotions, 
she  was  accompanied  by  her  children,  where  she  in- 
voked the  blessings  of  Heaven  upon  them,  while 
they  listened  to  her  soft,  sweet  voice,  lifted  in  sup- 
plication, and  beheld  the  tears  that  trickled  down 
her  cheeks,  as  she  pleaded  before  God  for  those  de- 
prived of  a  father's  care,  but  now  doubly  entrusted 
to  her  own.  Her  every-day  life  was  that  of  a  true 
Christian,  and  each  daj^  was  a  day  of  communion 
with  God.  Her  life,  shadowed  by  the  stroke  that 
had  fallen  on  her  heart  in  the  death  of  her  husband, 
was  consecrated  every  hour  to  God. 

About    the    year    1799,    she    was    married    to 


IN    KENTUCKY.  319 

Capt.  Christopher  Irvine,  of  Madisou  county,  near 
Richmond ;  and,  after  his  death,  she  resided  with 
her  youngest  daughter,  Mrs.  Eosanna  Field,  adjoin- 
ing Richmond,  where,  in  1829,  she  died  in  great 
peace.* 

Ilighly  gifted  by  nature,  possessed  of  indomitable 
energy,  and  with  a  heart  sanctified  by  grace,  she 
Avas  well  prepared  to  impart  an  influence  to  the 
Church,  that  could  be  claimed  but  by  few  of  her 
time.  Through  the  whole  period  of  her  life,  zeal- 
ous for  the  cause  of  Christ,  in  her  own  family,  in 
the  community  in  which  she  resided,  and  in  the 
Church  of  which  she  was  a  member,  she  was  "a 
burning  and  a  shining  light."  Among  her  descend- 
ants have  been  men,  some  of  whom,  by  the  power 
of  their  eloquence  and  the  greater  power  of  an  up- 
right life,  have  graced  the  halls  of  legislation,  while 
others  have  won  distinction  in  the  learned  profes- 
sions ;  and  women  who,  as  the  wives  of  ministers 
of  the  gospel,  who  have  been  prominent  in  the 
Church,  or  filling  other  spheres,  have  been  useful 
members  of  society,  gracing  it  with  their  charms, 
and  shedding  upon  it  the  glorious  example  of  a 
holy  life. 

One  of  the  earliest  families  to  join  the  Methodist 
Church  in  Kentucky,  was  that  of  Joshua  Stamper. 
His  wife,  Mrs.  Jane  Stamper,  preceded  him  in  en- 
tering the  Church.  They  were  the  parents  of  the 
Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper.     Whatever  responsibility 


*  We  have  been  favored  with  these  facts  by  her  son,  Mark  Hardin, 
Esq.,  of  Shelbyville,  Kentucky. 


320  METHODISM 

may  belong  to  the  father  in  the  religious  training 
of  his  children — and  no  language  can  estimate  it — 
yet  certainly  the  first  impressions  are  made  by  the 
mother  on  the  infant  mind.  The  moral  and  re- 
ligious character  of  Mrs.  Stamper  cannot  be  over- 
drawn. Of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  within  the 
sphere  of  her  own  home  she  exerted  an  influence 
that  has  been  felt  in  the  Church  to  the  present  time. 
Iler  daughter,  Mrs.  Danle}^,  the  mother  of  the  Rev. 
Leroy  C.  Danley,  once  said  "that  of  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  several  branches  of  the  family  of  her 
parents,  including  those  who  had  married  into  the 
family,  about  fifty  or  sixty  in  number,  who  have 
grown  to  mature  years,  there  were  but  two  who 
were  not  professors  of  religion."*  Deeply  pious, 
and  devoted  to  the  Church,  as  was  her  husband, 
yet  to  the  influence  and  religious  counsel  of  Mrs. 
Stamper  was  her  family  chiefly  indebted  for  these 
blessed  results. 

The  following  sketch  of  her  character,  furnished 
at  our  request,  by  Mrs.  "W".  M.  Grubbs,  the  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper,  and  wife  of  the  Rev. 
"William  M.  Grubbs,  of  Russellville,  Kentucky,  is  so 
excellent  a  portraiture  of  Mrs.  Stamper,  that  we 
give  it  to  our  readers  without  any  alteration : 

"  My  grandparents  were  among  the  very  earl}^ 
settlers  of  Kentucky,  coming  to  this  State  from  Vir- 
ginia about  the  year  1778.  For  more  than  twelve 
years  they  w^ere  compelled  to  live  in  forts,  and  en- 
dure all  tlie  hardships  of  frontier  life.     They  lived 

*  Letter  to  the  author  from  J.  :M.  Bra  wuor,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  321 

first  at  Boonesborougb,  and  afterward  at  Strode's 
Station.  Long  after  they  ventured  outside  of  the 
walls  of  a  fort,  they  were  exposed  to  Indian  depre- 
dations. During  all  these  tedious  years  they  lived 
almost  entirely  on  the  wild  game  procured  by  my 
grandfather's  rifle — much  of  the  time  without  bread 
or  salt.  To  get  even  this  scanty  fare,  he  had  many 
thrilling  adventures  and  hair-breadth  escapes.  My 
childish  heart  has  almost  stood  still  with  terror  as  I 
have  heard  it  told  how  the  Indians,  with  uplifted 
tomahawks,  ran  him  into  the  fort,  while  his  poor, 
agonized  wife,  from  her  lookout,  saw  the  fearful 
race,  until  some  kind  friend,  who  would  not  have 
her  witness  the  murder  of  her  husband,  drew  her 
away.  It  is  true,  he  escaped,  and  was  spared  to  his 
family ;  but  often  had  she  been  called  to  look  upon 
such  scenes  among  her  friends.  Being  naturally  a 
very  delicate  woman,  the  many  privations,  the  fear- 
ful uncertainty  and  excitement  of  pioneer  life,  told 
heavily  upon  her  health  in  all  after  life. 

"  My  grandmother  was  born  in  Bedford  county, 
Virginia.  Her  maiden  name  was  Jane  Woodrough. 
In  her  early  home  she  was  nurtured  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  being  of  an  extremely  sensitive 
and  conscientious  turn  of  mind,  she  was  often  in 
great  fear  lest  she  was  not  among  the  elect.  The 
first  Methodist  sermon  she  ever  heard  was  preached 
in  her  new  home :  mnder  it  she  was  converted,  and 
joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church ;  and  for 
nearly  forty  years  she  lived  a  faithful,  consistent 
Christian. 

"Her  house  was  not  only  the  home  of  the  weary 
VOL.  I. — 11 


322  METHODISM 

itinerant,  but  was  for  many  years  a  preaching- 
place. 

"Her  record  is  not  found  among  the  notable 
women,  whose  deeds,  like  great  rivers,  have  blessed 
many  lands :  her  sphere  was  humble ;  but  in  the 
quiet  seclusion  of  her  own  home,  she  led  a  godly 
life  ;  and  the  world  is  better  that  she  lived,  for  she 
trained  and  sent  forth  a  Christian  family  of  sons 
and  daughters,  who  loved  and  labored  for  the  cause 
she  prized. 

"  I  saw  her  many  times,  yet  one  scene  only  re- 
mains with  me.  It  was  a  bright  summer  day,  and 
as  I  stood  in  the  door,  she  sat  by  her  low  bed,  ear- 
nestly regarding  me.  She  wore  the  plain  dress  of 
her  day,  with  the  white  muslin  kerchief  folded  around 
her  in  the  style  used  by  the  old  Methodist  ladies. 
Much  is  now  said  of  magnetic  faces.  "Why  it  is 
that  this  one  picture  of  her  is  so  vividly  impressed 
on  my  mind,  I  cannot  tell,  unless  her  face,  with  its 
steady  blue  eye,  can  come  under  this  class. 

"  She  was  a  very  firm  woman,  but  most  tender 
and  affectionate.  My  father  was  very  young  when 
he  joined  the  itinerant  ministry,  and  of  course  had 
his  share  of  hardship.  "When  he  came  home  to  her, 
after  a  hard  year's  work,  worn  and  ragged,  she  wept 
over  him,  but  comforted  him  with  many  cheering 
words,  and  soon,  with  her  own  hands,  made  him 
read}^  for  his  mission  again.  Many  instances  of  this 
kind  might  be  spoken  of;  but  to  show  that  she  was 
not  weakly  sympathetic  and  tender,  when,  at  another 
time,  he  came  to  her  discouraged  hy  the  unkiudness 
and  harshness  of  his  seniors  in  the  ministry,  deter- 


IN     KENTUCKY.  323 

mined  to  abide  at  home,  she  cared  for  him  most 
lovingl}' ;  but  when  the  time  came  for  him  to  start, 
she  said  to  him,  (and  any  loving  mother  may  im- 
agine what  it  cost  her,)  'Young  man,  get  your  horse 
and  go;  you  can't  stay  here.' 

"  One  other  trait  much  to  be  admired,  was  the 
perfect  freedom  of  her  religious  intercourse  with 
her  family.  They  talked,  prayed,  and  rejoiced  to- 
gether in  their  own  home.  She  taught  her  children 
to  bear  the  cross  in  the  beginning  of  their  religious 
life.  "When  my  father  came  home  from  the  camp- 
meeting  at  which  he  was  converted,  my  grandfather 
being  absent,  although  an  elder  brother  was  present, 
she  made  him  lead  the  family  devotions. 

"  She  died  in  1825,  and  my  father  thus  writes  of 
her  death : 

"  '  My  mother  lingered  about  four  months  after 
the  death  of  my  father,  and  then  sweetly  fell  asleep 
in  Jesus.  I  was  permitted  to  be  present  and  close 
her  eyes,  when  the  happy  spirit  left  its  clay  taber- 
nacle. We  had  been  anticipating  this  event  for 
months,  yet  when  it  came  we  were  unprepared  to 
give  her  up.  My  own  feelings  were  almost  beyond 
control  when  I  saw  those  calm,  blue  eyes,  which 
had  so  often  beamed  upon  me  with  all  a  mother's 
love,  close  for  ever  in  the  darkness  of  death.  A 
sense  of  orphanage  pervaded  my  spirit ;  and  though 
I  had  been  a  husband  and  father  for  years,  I  felt 
that  in  some  way  I  was  left  alone  when  my  dear  old 
mother  died. 

"  '  My  mother  possessed  a  ver}^  tender  heart,  and 
could  see  nothing  suffer  without  great  pain.     She 


324  METHODISM 

was  an  example  of  sinning  piety  to  her  children ; 
and  to  this  hour  I  am  thankful  for  the  gift  of  such 
a  mother — one  who  cared  for  my  soul,  and  taught 
my  youthful  feet  the  way  to  the  house  of  God.  I 
am  now  an  old  man ;  hut  her  look,  her  counsels, 
her  prayers,  her  tears,  are  all  fresh  in  my  memory ; 
and  I  rejoice  in  the  hope  of  meeting  her  in  heaven, 
and  once  more  calling  her  by  the  precious  name  of 
mother. 

" '  I  think  that  a  cold  and  cheerless  doctrine 
which  teaches  we  shall  be  wholly  unknown  to  each 
other  in  the  future  world,  or  that  the  bonds  of 
earthly  affection  shall  be  so  severed  that  we  shall 
lose  all  kindred  nearness  to  each  other.  It  seems 
to  me  that  it  will  constitute  a  portion  of  heaven's 
perfect  happiness  to  sit  down  under  the  bending 
branches  of  the  tree  of  life. 

With  those  so  dear 
While  lingering  here, 

and  tell  over,  again  and  again,  our  experience  of 
God's  deaUngs  with  us  in  this  w^orld  of  enemies  and 
conflicts.  0  I  should  feel  sorry  if  I  thought  it 
would  not  be  permitted  me  to  lay  my  head  on  my 
precious  mother's  lap  once  more,  as  I  used  to  do 
when  a  little  white-headed  boy,  and  hear  her  sweet 
song,  or  her  soothing  voice  saying,  My  precious 
son!'" 

In  the  early  history  of  Methodism  in  Kentucky, 
Mrs.  Mary  Todd  Ilinde*  bore  a  prominent  part.    She 


•^' As  many  as  nine  of  her  descendants  have  taken  rank  in  the 
ministry  of  the  Methodist  Clinrch,  to^vit:  Thomas  S.  ITindc.her  son, 


IN     KENTUCKY.  325 

was  the  daughter  of  Benjamin  Hubhard,  an  English 
merchant.  On  the  24th  of  September,  1704,  she 
was  married  to  Dr.  Thomas  Hinde,  an  eminent 
physician  and  surgeon,  who  had  settled  in  Virginia. 
Descended  from  an  excellent  family,  favored  with 
the  best  educational  advantages  of  her  times,  her 
mind  well  cultivated,  easy  and  graceful  in  her  man- 
ners, charitable  in  her  views  of  the  words  and  deeds 
of  others,  and  occupying  a  high  social  position,  she 
imparted  happiness  to  the  society  in  whose  circle 
she  moved. 

For  manj^  years  after  her  marriage,  she  lived 
without  the  comforts  of  religion.  The  great  aver- 
sion of  her  husband  to  Christianity  was  a  hindrance 
to  the  cultivation  of  any  religious  emotions  that 
may  have  impressed  her  heart. 

One  of  her  daughters  became  impressed  upon  the 
subject  of  religion,  and  in  an  interview  with  her 
mother,  the  latter  also  became  awakened.  A  short 
time  afterward,  preaching  was  introduced  into  the 
neighborhood  in  which  she  resided,  by  Methodist 

Leroy  H.  Kavanaugh,  and  Edward  L.  Southgate,  Sen.,  her  grand- 
sons, all  of  whom  died  in  peace  some  years  since.  There  are  still 
living,  Hubbard  Hinde  Kavanaugh,  Bishop  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
South,  Benjamin  Taylor  Kavanaugh,  pastor  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
South,  Houston,  Texas,  and  Williams  Barbour  Kavanaugh,  preacher 
in  charge  of  Alexandria  Circuit,  Kentucky  Conference,  her  grand- 
sons ;  Peter  E.  Kavanaugh,  preacher  in  charge  of  Orangeburg  Cir- 
cuit, Kentucky  Conference,  Hubbard  Hinde  Kavanaugh,  Jr.,  preacher 
in  charge  of  Oddville  Circuit,  Kentucky  Conference,  and  Edward  L. 
Southgate,  Jr.,  preacher  in  charge  of  Richmond  and  Providence  Sta- 
tion, Kentucky  Conference,  her  great-grandsons.  Two  of  her  daugh- 
ters, moreover,  married  Methodist  ministers,  to  wit :  Williams  Kav- 
anaugh and  Leroy  Cole. 


326  METHODISM 

preachers,  and,  under  their  preaching,  she  was  more 
fully  instructed  in  the  way  of  salvation,  and  was 
converted  to  God. 

In  her  early  efforts  to  become  religious,  she  was 
met  by  the  opposition  of  her  husband.  Refusing 
to  furnish  her  with  a  horse  to  ride  to  church,  she 
walked  regularly  to  the  house  of  God.  Unwilling 
to  yiekl  her  purpose  to  become  a  Christian,  no  ar- 
gument could  induce  her  to  abandon  it.  Declaring 
his  belief  that  his  wife  was  losing  her  mind,  he 
applied  a  blister  to  her  neck  to  bring  her  to  her 
senses.  In  this  condition  she  went  to  the  place  of 
prayer.  The  sufferings  she  bore,  together  with 
the  patience  she  evinced  under  them,  had  an  ef- 
fect contrary  to  the  expectations  of  her  husband. 
It  terminated  in  his  awakening,  but  not  in  the  curing 
of  his  wife. 

"We  copy  the  following  from  a  letter  we  received 
from  her  grandson,  Bishop  II.  H.  Kavanaugh,  dated 
Lexington,  Kentucky,  April  14,  1868  : 

"  Faith  in  the  promises  of  God,  and  the  efficacy 
of  the  blood  of  the  atoning  Lamb,  was  much  more 
efficient  to  the  removal  of  her  distracting  grief  and 
burdened  soul.  How  long  she  was  seeking  the 
pardon  of  her  sins,  until  she  obtained  peace  with 
God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  I  am  not  in- 
formed ;  but  having  obtained  the  pearl  of  great 
price,  she  beautifully  illustrated  its  value  by  a  godly 
conversation  —  walking  'worthy  of  the  vocation 
wherewith  she  was  called.' 

"After  Mrs.  Ilinde  and  her  husband  were  fully 
enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  Captain  of  their  salva- 


IN     KENTUCKY.  327 

tiou,  they  removed  to  Kentucky,  and  settled  in 
Clarke  county.  Here  she  became  instrumental  in 
the  organization  of  a  class,  afterward  known  as  the 
Ebenezer  Church.  In  this  neighborhood,  the  purity 
of  her  life,  the  sweetness  of  her  spirit,  together  with 
the  clearness  of  her  mind,  were  all  elements  of  use- 
fulness. 

*'  Under  the  influence  of  the  French  infidelity  of 
the  day,  there  was  at  that  time  a  good  deal  of  that 
form  of  infidelity  which  was  styled  Deism.  Its  ad- 
herents admitted  the  existence  of  one  God,  denied 
the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  the  divinity  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  inspiration  of  the  Scriptures.  One 
of  her  neighbors.  Major  John  Martin,  who  was  an 
adherent  of  this  doctrine,  was  indulging  in  a  little 
pleasant  raillery,  ridiculing  her  religion  as  being 
untrue,  irrational,  and  not  worthy  of  belief.  In  a 
kind  and  gentle  tone  of  voice,  she  said  to  him : 
'Major  Martin,  the  Christian  religion  may  be  true.' 
The  expression  fastened  strongly  upon  the  Major. 
He  said  afterward,  that,  on  his  way  home,  the 
thought  was  constantly  revolving  in  his  mind.  The 
Christian  religion  may  he  true.  The  manner  of  the 
Major  was  rather  blunt  and  pointed ;  so  he  said  to 
himself,  'If  the  Christian  religion  is  true,  it  is  an 
awful  truth  to  me.'  And  as  he  pondered  the  great 
facts  of  religion,  before  he  reached  his  home  he  said 
to  himself,  '  The  Christian  religion  is  true,  and  I 
am  a  sinner,  and  on  the  way  to  hell.'  He  hastened 
home,  called  for  the  Testament,  and  betook  himself 
to  prayer,  in  which  he  persisted  until  he  had  the 
knowledge  of  salvation  by  the  remission  of  sins. 


328  METHODISM 

From  that  time  he  was  the  uncompromising  soldier 
of  the  cross  and  follower  of  the  Lamb,  until  he 
closed  his  life  in  peace. 

"  Mrs.  Ilinde  had  a  singularly  clear  and  distinct 
memory  of  the  events  of  her  life  and  observation. 
Unlike  the  Doctor,  her  memory  never  failed  her. 
When  in  advanced  age,  she  became  apprehensive 
that  she  should  lose  her  eye-sight,  as  her  eyes  were 
weak  and  failing :  she  thought  that  one  of  the  most 
gloomy  features  of  that  calamity  would  be  the 
deprivation  of  the  pleasure  and  profit  of  reading 
the  good  books  that  had  so  often  cheered  her  heart 
and  edified  her  mind. 

"To  relieve,  in  some  measure,  the  calamity  she 
saw  coming  upon  her,  she  committed  to  memory  a 
large  portion  of  Baxter's  Saint's  Rest,  and  an  aston- 
ishing amount  of  the  practical  remarks  of  Scott's 
Commentary,  some  of  the  sermons  of  Wesley  most 
admired  by  her,  and  some  other  authors  that  I  can- 
not now  remember,  and  forty  hymns.  I  have  held 
the  book  and  heard  her  recite  for  an  hour  at  a  time, 
and  she  but  rarely  miscalled  a  word ;  and  those  she 
would  miss  were  a  mere  substitution  of  the  little 
connective  forms  of  speech  that  did  not  much  afi:ect 
the  sense.  The  satisfaction  she  realized  in  this,  she 
said,  well  rewarded  her  for  the  labor  of  committing. 
Even  in  her  blindness  she  was  cheerful,  devoted  to 
her  Christian  duties,  and  resigned  to  the  will  of 
God. 

"I  do  not  remember  any  detail  of  her  dying  ex- 
ercises, which  I  may  have  heard.  But  her  race  is 
ended,  the  battle  is  fought,  and  the  long  anticipated 


IN    KENTUCKY.  329 

crown  has  been  bestowed.  How  glorious  it  is  to 
think  that  her  grand  attainments  through  grace  are 
hers  for  ever!" 

The  Annual  Conferences  for  the  western  division 
of  the  work  had  hitherto  been  held  in  the  spring. 
In  a  former  chapter  we  noticed  the  Conference  for 
this  year,  which  convened  at  Dunworth,  on  Holston, 
on  the  first  Friday  in  April. 

During  this  year  the  Conference  was  changed 
from  the  spring  to  the  fall  of  the  year. 

On  the  30th  of  September,  Bishop  Asbury  en- 
tered Kentucky,  and  on  the  following  Saturday 
reached  Bethel  Academy,  accompanied  by  Bishop 
Whatcoat  and  William  McKendree,  and  on  the  Gth 
of  October  commenced  the  session  of  the  Con- 
ference. We  copy  from  his  Journal,  Vol.  II.,  pp. 
473,  474,  475 : 

''Saturday^  October  4.  I  came  to  Bethel.  Bishop 
Whatcoat  and  William  McKendree  preached :  I  was 
so  dejected  I  could  say  little,  but  weep.  Sabbath- 
day  it  rained,  and  I  kept  at  home.  Here  is  Bethel — 
Cokesbury  in  miniature — eighty  by  thirty  feet,  three 
stories,  with  a  high  roof,  and  finished  below.  IsTow 
we  want  a  fand  and  an  income  of  three  hundred  per 
year  to  carry  it  on  ;  without  which  it  will  be  useless. 
But  it  is  too  distant  from  public  places ;  its  being 
surrounded  by  the  river  Kentucky  in  part,  we  now 
find  to  be  no  benefit:  thus  all  our  excellences  are 
turned  into  defects.  Perhaps  Brother  Poythress 
and  myself  were  as  much  overseen  with  this  place 
as  Dr.  Coke  was  with  the  seat  of  Cokesbury.  But 
all  is  right  that  works  ri.e:ht,  and  all  is  wrong  that 


330  METHODISM 

works  wrong,  and  we  must  be  blamed  by  men  of 
slender  sense  for  consequences  impossible  to  foresee 
— for  other  people's  misconduct.  Sabbath-day,  Mon- 
day, and  Tuesday,  we  were  shut  up  in  Bethel  with 
the  traveling  and  local  ministry,  and  the  trustees 
that  could  be  called  together.  We  ordained  four- 
teen or  fifteen  local  and  traveling  deacons.  It  was 
thought  expedient  to  carry  the  first  design  of  edu- 
cation into  execution,  and  that  we  should  employ  a 
man  of  sterling  qualifications,  to  be  chosen  by  and 
under  the  direction  of  a  select  number  of  trustees 
and  others,  who  should  obligate  themselves  to  see 
him  paid,  and  take  the  profits,  if  any,  arising  from 
the  establishment.  Dr.  Jennings  was  thought  of, 
talked  of,  and  written  to.  I  visited  John  Lewis, 
who  lately  had  his  leg  broken ;  I  left  him  with  good 
resolutions  to  take  care  of  his  soul. 

"  Wednesday,  8.  We  rode  fifteen  miles  to  Shawnee 
Eun,  and  crossed  Kentucky  River  at  Curd's  Ferry ; 
the  river  was  as  low  as  a  stream,  and  the  streams 
are  nearly  dried  up. 

''•  Thursday,  9.  I  preached  on  Heb.  iii.  12-14,  at 
the  new  house  at  Shawnee  Run.  We  had  rich  en- 
tertainment for  man  and  beast  at  Robert  Johnson's. 

''' Friday,  10.  We  rode  to  Pleasant  Run  to  John 
Springer's  :  it  was  a  very  warm  day  for  the  season. 
I  had  a  running  blister  at  my  side,  yet  I  rode  and 
walked  thirty-two  miles.  We  refreshed  ourselves 
at  Crawford's  Tavern  upon  the  way.  We  have  vis- 
ited Knox,  Madison,  Mercer,  and  Washington  coun- 
ties, in  this  State.  It  was  strongly  insisted  upon  by 
preachers  and  people  that  I  should  say  something 


IN    KENTUCKY.  331 

before  I  left  Bethel ;  able  or  unable,  willing  or  un- 
Avilling:  accordingly,  on  Tuesday^  in  the  academ- 
ical hall,  I  gave  a  long,  temperate  talk  upon  Heb. 
X.  88,  39. 

'^ Sabbath-day,  12.  It  rained  excessively  ;  we  were 
shut  up ;  William  McKendree  met  the  people.  We 
have  had  but  two  Sabbaths  to  spend  in  Kentucky, 
and  in  both  I  was  prevented  by  rain. 

"Holiday,  13.  We  left  John  Springer's,  and  came 
to  Lewis  Thomas's,  fifteen  miles;  a  deep,  damp, 
narrow  path;  the  underwood  very  wet.  Crossed 
Cartwright  and  Hardin's  Creeks.  I  gave  a  short 
sermon  on  Eom.  viii.  9 :  'If  any  man  have  not 
the  Spirit  of  Christ,  he  is  none  of  his.' 

'^Tuesday,  14.  We  began  our  march  for  Cumber- 
land. We  were  told  by  two  persons  that  we  could 
not  cross  the  Rolling  Fork  of  Salt  River;  I  judged 
we  could,  and  as  I  thought,  so  it  was — we  forded  it 
wdth  ease.  We  came  up  a  solitary  path  east  of  the 
Level  Woods,  and  struck  into  the  road  to  Lee's 
Ferry.  For  ten  miles  of  the  latter  part  of  this  day's 
journey,  we  rode  through  barrens  of  hickory,  shrub- 
oak,  and  hazel-nut :  thirty  miles,  if  not  thirty-five, 
is  the  amount  of  this  day's  work :  in  the  morning 
there  was  a  very  great  damp,  and  in  the  afternoon 
it  was,  I  thought,  as  warm  as  the  west  of  Georgia. 

''''Wednesday,  15.  We  crossed  Green  River,  the 
main  branch  of  which  riseth  near  the  Crab  Or- 
chard. We  crossed  at  the  mouth  of  Little  Barren 
River.  We  then  made  a  bold  push  for  the  Great 
Barren :  dining  at  Mr.  Morrison's,  I  could  not  eat 
wallet-provision  ;  but  happily  for  me,  I  was  provided 


332  METHODISM 

witli  a  little  fresh  mutton  at  the  house,  made  warm 
in  a  small  space.  Now  we  had  unfavorable  appear- 
ances of  rain ;  we  had  bleak,  barren  hills  to  ride ; 
which,  although  beautiful  to  sight,  were  painful  to 
sense.  The  rain  came  in  large  and  rapid  drops  for 
fourteen  miles;  we  were  well  soaked  on  all  sides. 
A  little  after  dark  we  came  to  Mr.  Hagin's,  upon 
Big  Barren  Eiver:  a  good  house,  an  excellent  fire 
to  dry  our  clothing,  good  meat  and  milk  for  supper, 
and  the  cleanest  beds — all  this  we  had.  I  have 
paid  for  this  route." 

The  session  lasted  but  two  days,  and  as  the  Jour- 
nal is  brief,  we  copy  it  entire : 

"Journal  of  the  "Western  Annual  Conference,  held 
at  Bethel  Academy,  Kentucky,  October  6,  1800. 
Members  present:  Francis  Asbury,  Kichard  What- 
coat,  William  McKendree,  William  Burke,  John 
Sale,  Hezekiah  Harriman,  Benjamin  Lakin;  read- 
mitted, Lewis  Hunt,  Thomas  Allen,  and  Jeremiah 
Lawson. 

"Who  are  admitted  on  trial?  , 

'^Answer,     "William  Marsh,  Benjamin  Young. 

"What  local  preachers  are  elected  to  the  office 
of  deacons? 

"Aiisiver.  Eichard  Tilton,  Edward  Talbot,  "Wil- 
liam Thompson,  Isaac  Pavey,  Eeuben  Hunt,  Elisha 
Bowman,  Jacob  James,  A.  Blackman,  Jonathan 
Kidwell,  Benjamin  ISTorthcutt,  Joshua  West,  James 
Garner,  Jesse  Griffith,  Philip  Taylor. 

"Who  have  located  this  year? 

''Answer,     Thomas  Allen. 

"Benjamin    Lakin,    Jercuiiah    Lawson,    Lewis 


IN    KENTUCKY.  666 

Iliiut,  and  Thomas  Allen  ordained  to  the  office  of 
deacons. 

"  The  preachers'  deficiencies  for  six  months  are 
as  follows:  William  Burke,  X2  17s  6d;  Hezekiah 
Harriman,  £7  19s  Od;  John  Sale,  X6  16s  6d;  Lewis 
Hunt,  £0  18s  2d ;  Jeremiah  Lawson,  £5  15s  5d ; 
Benjamin  Young,  X3  5s  6d ;  Thomas  Allen,  Xll  2s 
Od.     Total,  <£38  14s  3d. 

"Conference  adjourned  to  meet  again  at  Ebene- 
zer.  State  of  Tennessee,  October  1,  1801. 

"  Test,  F.  AsBURY. 

"William  Burke,  Secretary. 

"From  this  brief  Journal  it  appears  that  there  were 
present  at  the  Conference  only  ten  individuals,  in- 
cluding Bishops  Asbury  and  Whatcoat,  and  the 
session  continued  onl}^  one  day,  and  the  members 
were  off  to  their  several  Appointments,  which,  ac- 
cording to  the  printed  Minutes,  were  as  follows : 

"Kentucky  District. — William  Mclvendree,  P.  E. 

"Scioto  and  Miami,  Henry  Smith. 

"Limestone,  Benjamin  Lakin. 

"Hinkstone  and  Lexington,  William  Burke, 
Thomas  Wilkerson,  Lewis  Hunt. 

"Danville,  Hezekiah  Harriman. 

"Salt  River  and  Shelby,  John  Sale,  William 
Marsh. 

"  Cumberland,  John  Page,  Benjamin  Young. 

''Green,  Samuel  Douthet,  Ezekiel  Burdine. 

"Holston  and  Russell,  James  Hunter. 

"]^ew  River,  John  Watson."* 

*  Nashville  Christian  Advocate,  January  16,  1851. 


334  METHODISM 

The  deep  solicitude  felt  by  Bishop  Asbury  for  the 
success  of  Bethel  Academy,  as  well  as  his  fear  for 
its  failure,  is  certainly  very  touchingly  expressed  in 
the  extract  we  have  quoted  from  his  journal.  Dur- 
ing his  brief  stay  in  Kentucky,  he  "  ordains  four- 
teen or  fifteen  local  and  traveling  deacons," 
preaches  at  Bethel  Academy  and  at  several  other 
points,  traverses  a  large  portion  of  the  State,  visits 
Churches,  suffering  all  the  while  under  deep  afflic- 
tion.    "Wonderful  man  ! 

On  the  16th  of  October,  he  enters  the  State  of 
Tennessee,  and  the  18th  he  preached  at  Parker's, 
where  he  was  met  by  "Brothers  McGee,  Sugg, 
Jones,  and  Speer,  local  preachers,"  and  "had  a 
small  shout  in  the  camp  of  Israel."  On  the  19th 
he  looked  upon  ISTashville  for  the  first  time,  and  met 
a  congregation  of  "not  less  than  one  thousand  in 
and  out  of  the  Stone  Church,"  to  whom  sermons 
were  preached  by  "  Mr.  McKendree,  Bishop  "What- 
coat,  and  himself,  the  services  lasting  three  hours." 
On  the  following  day  we  find  him  at  "  Drake's  Creek 
Meeting-house,  at  the  close  of  a  sacramental  solem- 
nit}^  that  had  been  held  four  days  by  Craighead, 
Hodge,  Rankin,  McGee,  and  Adair,  Presbyterian 
ministers,  at  which  sermons  were  preached  by  Mc- 
Kendree, Whatcoat,  and  himself"  On  that  day 
and  night  following,  he  enjoyed  the  privilege  of 
mingling  "with  scenes  of  deepest  interest."  The 
great  revival,  to  which  we  have  so  frequently  re- 
ferred, was  now  in  its  zenith,  in  Tennessee  and 
Southern  Kentucky.  The  vast  assemblies  that  at- 
tended the  preaching  of  the  gospel  could  not  be  ac- 


IN     KENTUCKY.  335 

commodated  in  any  of  the  churclies.  At  this  meet- 
ing "the  stand  was  in  the  open  air,  embosomed  in 
a  wood  of  lofty  beech-trees."  We  copy  from  As- 
bury's  Journal,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  476,  477: 

^'Tuesday,  October  21.  Yesterday,  and  especiall}'- 
during  the  night,  were  witnessed  scenes  of  deep  in- 
terest. In  the  intervals  between  preaching,  the  peo- 
ple refreshed  themselves  and  horses,  and  returned 
upon  the  ground.  The  stand  was  in  the  open  air,  em- 
bosomed in  a  wood  of  lofty  beech-trees.  The  minis- 
ters of  God,  Methodists  and  Presbyterians,  united 
their  labors,  and  mingled  with  the  child-like  sim- 
plicity of  primitive  times.  Fires  blazing  here  and 
there,  dispelled  the  darkness,  and  the  shouts  of  the 
redeemed  captives,  and  the  cries  of  precious  souls 
struggling  into  life,  broke  the  silence  of  midnight. 
The  weather  was  delightful;  as  if  heaven  smiled, 
whilst  mercy  flowed  in  abundant  streams  of  salva- 
tion to  perishing  sinners.  "We  suppose  there  were 
at  least  thirty  souls  converted  at  this  meeting.  I 
rejoice  that  God  is  visiting  the  sons  of  the  Puritans, 
who  are  candid  enough  to  acknowledge  their  obli- 
gations to  the  Methodists." 

The  name  of  William  McKendree,  identified  this 
year  for  the  first  time  with  the  history  of  the  Church 
in  Kentucky,  not  only  from  the  position  he  subse- 
quently occupied,  as  one  of  the  chief  pastors  of  the 
entire  Church,  but  from  his  commanding  talents, 
his  fervent  piety,  his  deep  devotion  to  the  cause  of 
Christ,  and  great  usefulness,  will  always  be  cherished 
with  fond  remembrance.  He  "was  born  in  Kino; 
William  county,  Virginia,  July  5, 1 757.    Of  his  early 


336  METHODISM 

history  we  know  but  little,  farther  than  that  he  was 
of  worthy  and  pious  parents,  who  were  in  moderate 
circumstances,  and  was  brought  up  to  the  pursuits 
common  to  the  sons  of  a  medium  farmer  in  those 
days.  His  early  education  was  imperfect;  but  in 
the  course  of  years,  by  close  attention  to  study,  he 
became  a  learned  man."  * 

He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  having 
entered  the  service  as  a  private,  but  was  in  a  short 
time  made  adjutant,  and  afterward  in  consequence 
of  his  great  energy,  "and  fine  business  qualifica- 
tions, was  placed  in  the  commissary  department."! 
In  this  position  he  exhibited  those  traits  of  charac- 
ter, of  probity,  and  enterprise,  that  afterward  dis- 
tinguished him  as  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ.  In 
the  position  he  filled  in  the  army,  he  contributed 
much  "  to  sustain  the  allied  armies  of  Washington 
and  Rochambeau,  at  the  siege  of  Cornwallis  at 
Yorktown. 

"He  was  about  five  feet  ten  inches  in  height, 
weighing,  on  an  average,  through  life,  after  grown 
up  to  manhood,  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds, 
lie  had  fair  skin,  dark  hair,  and  blue  eyes.  He  in- 
creased in  flesh  between  the  years  of  forty  and 
sixty,  and  at  one  time  he  weighed  about  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  pounds ;  but  as  he  grew  old  he  de- 
clined in  flesh,  and  for  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life 
did  not  exceed  one  hundred  and  forty  pounds. 
When  in  his  prime,  his  form  was  almost  faultless, 

*Rev.  A.  L.  P.  Green,  D.D.,  in  Biographiccal  Sketches  of  Eminent 
Itinerant  Ministers,  p.  43. 
t  Ibid.,  p.  44. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  337 

possessing  extraordinary  action  and  great  physical 
strength.  His  features,  taken  as  a  whole,  were  de- 
cidedly good;  rather  handsome  than  otherwise. 
When  calm  and  silent^  there  was  the  expression  of 
deep  thought  upon  his  countenance,  sonaetimes  ap- 
proaching even  to  that  of  care ;  but  whenever  he 
spoke,  his  eyes  would  kindle  up,  and  a  smile  like 
that  of  pleasant  recognition  would  cover  his  face, 
which  was  the  outcropping  of  a  kind  and  benevo- 
lent heart.  His  constitution  was  no  doubt  natu- 
rally a  good  one,  but  he  was  so  much  overtaxed 
through  life  with  labor,  hardships,  and  exposure, 
that  his  old  age  was  burdened  with  infirmities,  be- 
ing for  many  years  under  the  influence  of  asthma 
and  neuralgia."  * 

Impressed  with  the  importance  of  religion  from 
early  childhood,  he,  however,  was  not  converted  f 
until  about  thirty  years  of  age.  Under  the  preach- 
insr  of  John  Easter  he  was  awakened  and  brouscht 
to  Christ.  In  1787,  he  connected  himself  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  "and  the  following 
year  obtained  license  to  preach,  and  joined  the 
traveling  connection  on  trial.  The  Conference  at 
which  he  was  admitted  was  held  in  Amelia  county, 
Virginia,  June  17,  1788.  His  first  appointment  was 
to   E'orfolk   and    Portsmouth.      His    next  was   to 


■^Rev.  A.  L.  P.  Green,  D.D.,  in  Biographical  Sketches  of  Eminent 
Itinerant  Ministers,  pp.  44,  45. 

f  John  and  Thomas  Easter  both  became  traveling  preachers.  The 
former  was  one  of  the  most  successful  preachers  the  Methodists  ever 
had.  Bishops  McKendree  and  George  were  both  awakened  under 
him,  and  thousands  of  others. — Lechmm,  p.  185, 


338  METHODISM 

Petersburg :  after  the  first  quarter,  lie  was  removed 
to  Union  Circuit,  in  the  bounds  of  the  South  Caro- 
lina Conference.  The  following  year  he  was  sent 
to  the  Bedford  Circuit,  Virginia  Conference ;  the 
third  quarter  he  was  removed  to  the  Greenbrier 
Circuit ;  the  fourth  quarter  he  was  removed  to  the 
Little  Levels,  on  the  Western  waters.  The  next 
year  he  was  appointed  to  four  circuits,  to  travel 
each  one  quarter.  At  the  end  of  this  year  he  was 
appointed  to  the  Eichmond  District.  The  following 
year  he  was  sent  to  a  mountainous  District  in  the 
Baltimore  Conference.  From  this  District  he  was 
returned  at  the  end  of  the  year  to  the  Richmond 
District,  from  which  he  was  taken  after  one  round, 
by  the  Bishops,  to  what  was  then  called  Kentucky, 
and  left  in  charge  of  what  was  then  the  Western 
Conference,  which  embraced  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Ten- 
nessee, and  all  Virginia  west  of  ^N'ew  River,  and 
also  one  Circuit  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  The  fore- 
going account  of  his  labors  is  from  the  Bishop's 
own  hand."* 

Mr.  McKendree  entered  upon  the  work  in  the 
West  at  a  most  propitious  period.  The  "  Great  Re- 
vival" in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  had  commenced 
previous  to  his  appointment  to  this  District ;  and  at 
the  time  he  entered  upon  his  labors,  "  throughout 
this  whole  region  a  religious  excitement  was  spread- 
ing and  prevailing."  f  After  attending  the  session 
of  the  Conference  at  Bethel,  he  passed  through  a 

^•Rev.  A.  L.  P.  Green,  D.D.,  in  Biographical  Sketches  of  Eminent 
Itinerant  Ministers,  p.  47. 

t  Recollections  of  the  West,  p.  33. 


IN    KENTUCKV.  339 

considerable  portion  of  Kentucky,  in  company  with 
Bishops  Asbury  and  Whatcoat,  reviewing  this  sec- 
tion of  his  field  of  labor,  preaching  with  extraordi- 
nary fervor,  and  bringing  the  wealth  of  his  princely 
intellect,  and  of  his  tireless  energy,  and  laying  all 
upon  the  altar  of  the  Church. 

The  printed  Minutes  report  his  appointments 
somewhat  different  from  the  extract  quoted  above. 
In  1788,  his  name  stands  connected  with  the  Meck- 
lenburg Circuit;  in  1789,  with  the  Cumberland; 
in  1790,  with  the  Portsmouth;  in  1791,  with  the 
Amelia;  in  1792,  with  the  Greensville;  in  1793, 
with  iTorfolk  and  Portsmouth ;  in  1794,  with  the 
Union ;  in  1795,  with  the  Bedford,  to  change  with 
Thomas  Wilkerson  in  six  months ;  in  1796,  as  Pre- 
siding Elder  over  Orange,  Amherst,  Hanover,  "Wil- 
liamsburg, and  Gloucester — his  name  also  stands  in 
connection  with  the  Williamsburg  Circuit ;  in  1797 
and  1798,  as  Presiding  Elder  over  'New  River,  Bot- 
tetourt,  Bedford,  Orange,  Hanover,  and  Williams- 
burg and  Gloucester;  in  1799,  as  Presiding  Elder 
over  Fairfax,  Alexandria,  Stafford,  Lancaster, 
Berkeley,  Alleghany,  Rockingham,  Pendleton,  and 
Winchester;  and  in  1800,  he  was  placed  in  charge 
of  the  District  embracing  the  Greenbrier  and  Botte- 
tourt,  the  Bedford,  Orange,  Amherst,  Williamsburg 
and  Hanover,  and  Gloucester  Circuits,  from  which 
he  was  removed  during  the  same  year  to  Kentucky. 

We  soon  find  him  in  attendance  at  a  Presbyterian 
meeting  ''at  Drake's  Creek  Meeting-house,"  in 
Tennessee,  where  a  revival  was  in  progress,  and 
l)reaching   from  Jeremiah   iv.   14:    "O  Jerusalem, 


340  METHODISM 

wash  thine  heart  from  wickedness,  that  thou  mayest 
be  saved.  How  long  shall  thy  vain  thoughts  lodge 
within  thee?"  In  company  with  Bishops  Asbury 
and  Whatcoat,  and  those  faithful  evangelists,  John 
and  William  McGee,  he  wends  his  way  toward  East 
Tennessee,  "preaching"  and  ''exhorting"  to  listen- 
ing thousands,  all  along  his  route. 

Traveling  his  vast  District,  he  "  had  been  but  a 
few  months  on  the  ground  till  he  understood  per- 
fectly his  field  of  labor,  moving  day  and  night,  vis- 
iting families,  organizing  societies,  and  holding 
Quarterly  Conferences.  It  was  his  constant  practice 
to  travel  from  thirty  to  fifty  miles  a  day  and  preach 
at  night.  All  classes  of  people  flocked  to  hear  him. 
Statesmen,  lawyers,  doctors,  and  theologians,  of  all 
denominations,  clustered  around  him,  saying,  as 
they  returned  home,  'Did  you  ever  hear  the  like 
before  ?  '  Some,  indeed,  were  so  captivated,  that 
they  would  say,  '^N'everman  spake  like  this  man.' 
He  saw  that  the  harvest  was  truly  great,  and  the 
laborers  few.  Early  in  the  morning  and  late  in  the 
evening,  with  streaming  eyes,  he  prayed  God,  with 
hands  and  heart  uplifted,  that  he  would  send  forth 
more  laborers  into  the  harvest. 

"He  was  actively  engaged  in  forming  new  circuits, 
and  calling  out  local  preachers  to  fill  them.  "When- 
ever he  found  a  young  man  of  piety  and  native 
talent,  he  led  him  out  into  the  Lord's  vineyard ;  and 
large  as  his  District  Avas,  it  soon  became  too  small 
for  him.  He  extended  his  labors  to  every  part  of 
South-western  Virginia;  then  crossing  the  Ohio 
River,  he  carried  the  holy  war  into  the  State  of  Ohio ; 


IN    KENTUCKY.  341 

and  there  he  formed  new  charges,  and  called  out 
young  men.  Like  a  noble  general,  he  was  always 
in  the  first  ranks.  Throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  West,  as  far  as  the  country  was  set- 
tled, McKendree  was  first  in  council  and  first  in 
action.  If  he  appeared  on  a  camp-ground,  every 
eye  was  upon  him,  and  his  word  was  law.  In  pri- 
vate circles,  in  Quarterly  Conferences,  he  was  the 
master  spirit."* 

We  have  already  referred  to  Mr.  McKendree  as 
being  an  active  participant,  immediately  on  his  en- 
trance on  the  labors  of  his  District,  in  the  revival 
of  religion  that  distinguished  this  period.  In  pass- 
ing through  his  vast  District,  he  carried  with  him  a 
holy  influence,  which,  like  a  "flame  of  fire,"  spread 
in  every  direction.  'No  difficulty  could  daunt  this 
soldier  of  the  cross.  ''  He  led  his  band  of  tried 
men — and  a  nobler  band  of  Christian  heroes  never 
lived  than  those  who  flocked  around  the  standard 
that  was  borne  in  triumph  by  AYilliam  McKen- 
dree."t  True,  sometimes  he  was  depressed,  for  he 
was  mortal ;  but,  nothing  daunted,  he  moved  with 
steady  and  resistless  step,  an  example  of  labor  and 
piety  among  his  brethren.  Deep  streams  could  not 
divert  him  from  his  course ;  high  mountains  pre- 
sented no  barrier;  the  rains  of  summer  and  the 
snows  of  winter  alike  unmoved  him.  Often  he 
swam  the  turbid  stream  to  reach  the  appointments 
he  had  made.     And  many  a  time,  after  a  long  day's 


*  Autobiography  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  Young,  pp.  61,  G2. 
fEev.  A.  L.  r.  Green,  D.D. 


342  METHODISM 

travel,  he  lay  out  in  the  woods  at  night,  hungry  and 
cold,  with  no  other  covering  than  his  clothes  and 
saddle-blanket,  except  the  blue  sky  above  him. 

The  first  to  bear  to  the  northern  and  central  por- 
tions of  Kentucky  the  intelligence  of  the  revivals 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  he  mingled  freely 
in  them.  In  the  pulpit,  in  the  altar,  in  the  family 
circle,  by  his  counsel  and  bright  Christian  example, 
he  exerted  an  influence  for  good  that  cannot  now 
be  estimated.  We  find  him  side  by  side  with  the 
pious  Burke  "in  the  contests"  he  had  with  the 
ministry  of  the  Baptist  Church ;  and  in  the  defense 
of  the  great  cardinal  doctrines  and  principles  of 
Methodism,  he  stood  forth  the  unflinching  advocate. 
Under  his  supervision  many  of  the  early  church- 
edifices  were  erected ;  *  and  under  his  ministry  the 
Kentucky  District  enjoyed  continual  prosperity. 

We  next  find  him  on  the  Cumberland  District, 
embracing  "nine  circuits,  one  of  which  was  in  Mis- 
souri. He  traveled  from  Kashville,  Tennessee, 
through  Kentucky  and  Illinois,  to  Missouri,  a  dis- 
tance of  fifteen  hundred  miles,  in  order  to  pass 
round  and  through  his  District.  Into  this  new  and 
extensive  field  of  labor  he  entered  spiritedly,  and 
was  everywhere  hailed  as  an  able  minister  of  the 
New  Testament.  Here  he  was  the  honored  instru- 
ment, in  connection  with  the  worthy  men  who 
labored  side  by  side  with  him,  though  under  his 
superintendency,  of  laying,  as  a  wise  master-builder, 

"  The  Brick  Chapel,  four  miles  north-east  of  Shelbyville,  was 
erected  under  his  direction.  It  was  the  second  brick  church  in 
Kentucky. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  343 

the  foundation  of  the  Cliurch  which  has  since  so 
gloriously  prospered  in  this  country."* 

The  same  success  that  crowned  his  ministry  on 
the  Kentucky  District,  followed  his  labors  in  this 
inviting  field.  Dangers,  however,  often  threatened 
him,  and  difficulties  that  could  only  be  overcome  by 
inflexibility  of  purpose,  often  opposed  him. 

"  In  the  year  1807,  Brother  Walker  was  sent  to 
Illinois,  there  being  at  that  time  but  one  circuit  in 
that  State  ;  and  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Travis 
was  sent  to  Missouri.     In  the  summer  of  this  year, 
William  McKendree,  who  was  then  in  charge  of  what 
was  called  the  Cumberland  District,  which  extended 
to  Illinois  and  Missouri,  took  with  him  James  Gwin 
and  A.  Goddard,  (Gwin  was  then  a  local  preacher, 
and  Goddard  was  traveling  what  was  then  called 
Barren  Circuit,)  and  set  out  to  visit  Walker  and 
Travis.     They  crossed  over  the  Ohio,  and  entered 
into  the  State  of  Illinois,  traveled  all  day,  and  find- 
ing no  house  to  stop  at,  passed  the  night  in  the  wil- 
derness.    Kext   day   they   shared   a   like   fortune, 
camping  out   at   night   again.     During  this  night 
their  horses  got  away,  and  they  did  not  find  them 
till  about  noon  the  next  day ;  but  that  night  they 
found  a  lone  settlement,  and  tarried  with  a  poor 
family  who  were  living  in  a  temporary  hut  or  camp. 
Next  night  they  reached  the  house  of  a  Mr.  B.,  who 
received  them  kindly.     The  Mississippi  was  not  far 
off;   and  there  being  no  way  to  get  their  horses 

*  Kev.  W.  W.  Redman,  in  Na&hville  Christian  Advocate,  February 
26,  1847. 


344  M  E  T  II  0  D  I  S  M 

across  it  at  that  point,  they  left  them  with  Mr.  B., 
took  their  baggage  on  their  shoulders,  and  went  on 
foot  to  the  river,  which  they  crossed  in  a  canoe,  and 
after  walking  twelve  miles,  they  came  to  the  house 
of  a  Mr.  Johnson.  Here  they  met  young  Travis, 
who  had  gotten  up  a  little  camp-meeting  in  the  wil- 
derness. At  this  meeting  their  labors  were  greatly 
blessed.  When  it  closed,  the}^  returned  again  to 
Mr.  B.,  and  went  to  a  camp-meeting  in  the  bounds 
of  Brother  Walker's  work,  called  the  Three  Springs. 
"  Here  they  found  a  few  faithful  members  of  the 
Church,  but  hosts  of  enemies.  One  individual  in 
particular,  who  was  a  leader  of  a  band  of  persecu- 
tors, had  called  a  council  among  them,  to  form  a 
plan  to  drive  the  preachers  off.  He  stated  to  his 
clan,  that  if  the  preachers  were  permitted  to  remain, 
and  could  have  their  way,  they  would  break  up  all 
the  gambling  and  racing  in  the  country,  and  that 
they  would  have  no  more  pleasure,  or  fun,  as  he 
called  it.  So  the  determination  among  them  was 
to  arm  themselves,  go  to  the  camp-meeting  en  masse, 
take  the  preachers  and  conduct  them  to  the  Ohio 
River,  carry  them  over,  and  let  them  know  that 
they  w^ere  to  keep  on  their  own  side,  and  never 
trouble  them  again.  This  purpose  was  made  known 
to  the  preachers  in  advance  of  their  appearance  on 
the  encampment.  On  Sunday,  while  Mr.  McKen- 
dree  was  in  the  midst  of  his  discourse,  preaching  to 
a  large  and  interested  congregation,  on  the  text, 
*Come  now,  and  let  us  reason  together,'  etc.,  the 
Major,  as  he  was  called,  and  his  compau}^,  rode  up, 
and  halted  near  the  congregation.     The  Major  told 


IN    KENTUCKY.  345 

his  men  that  he  woiikl  not  do  any  thing  until  the 
man  had  done  preaching.  Mr.  McKendree  was 
then  in  the  prime  of  life,  his  voice  loud  and  com- 
manding, his  hearing  that  of  undaunted  courage, 
while  a  supernatural  defiance  seemed  to  shoot  forth 
from  his  speaking  eyes.  He  was  sustained  hy  the 
presence  of  Gwin,  Goddard,  Walker,  and  Travis, 
who  sat  near  him.  The  prayers  of  the  faithful  were 
heing  sent  up  to  heaven  in  his  behalf;  and,  above 
all,  the  Divine  presence  was  with  him.  Such  was 
the  power  of  his  reasoning,  that  he  held  the  Major 
and  his  party  spell-bound  for  an  hour.  During  his 
remarks,  he  took  occasion  to  say  that  himself  and 
the  ministers  that  accompanied  him  were  all  citi- 
zens of  the  United  States  and  freemen,  and  had 
fought  for  the  liberty  which  they  enjoyed ;  but  that 
their  visit  to  that  place  was  one  of  mercy,  their  ob- 
ject being  to  do  good  to  the  souls  of  men  in  the 
name  of  Christ.  As  he  drew  his  remarks  to  a  close, 
awful  shocks  of  Divine  power  were  felt  by  the  con- 
gregation. At  length  mourners  were  called  for,  and 
scores  crowded  to  the  altar.  At  this  moment,  the 
Major  undertook  to  draw  off  his  men  and  retreat  in 
good  order;  but  some  Avere  already  gone,  others 
had  alighted,  turned  their  horses  loose,  and  were  at 
the  altar  for  prayer.  He  led  off  a  few  of  them  to 
the  spring;  and  after  a  short  consultation,  none  of 
them  seemed  inclined  to  prosecute  their  purpose 
any  farther,  and  at  once  disbanded.  Several  of  the 
number  were  converted  before  the  meetino:  closed, 
and  became  members  of  the  Church. 

"  On  the  same  evening,  about  the  going  down  of 


346  METHODISM 

the  sun,  a  mjin  came  up  to  Mr.  Gwin  and  said  to 
him :  'Are  you  the  man  that  carries  the  roll  ? ' 
^What  roll?'  said  Mr.  Gwin.  'The  roll,'  said  he, 
*  that  people  put  their  names  to  that  want  to  go  to 
heaven.'  Brother  Gwin,  supposing  that  he  had  ref- 
erence to  the  class-hook,  referred  him  to  Brother 
Walker,  who  took  his  name.  The  wdld  look  and 
novel  manner  of  the  man  indicated  derangement. 
He  left  the  camp-ground  and  fled  to  the  woods  with 
almost  the  speed  of  a  wild  beast.  ^N'othing  more 
was  seen  of  him  until  the  next  morning,  at  which 
time  he  returned  to  the  encampment,  w^et  with  the 
dew  of  the  night,  in  a  state  of  mind  which  was  dis- 
tressing beyond  description ;  but  during  the  day  he 
was  happily  and  powerfully  converted  to  God,  and 
was  found  sitting,  as  it  were,  at  the  feet  of  Jesus, 
clothed,  and  in  his  right  mind.  He  afterward  gave 
the  following  account  of  himself:  He  lived  in  what 
was  called  the  American  Bottom,  was  very  wdcked, 
and  professed  to  be  a  deist.  A  short  time  before, 
he  dreamed  that  the  day  of  judgment  was  coming, 
and  that  three  men  had  been  sent  from  the  East  to 
warn  him  of  his  danger,  which  had  distressed  him 
greatly ;  and  when  he  saw  the  three  preachers,  Mc- 
Kendree,  Gwin,  and  Goddard,  pass  his  house,  he 
recognized  them  as  the  same  persons  whom  he  had 
seen  in  his  dream,  and  he  had  follow^ed  them  to  the 
camp-meeting,  and  they  had  warned  him  of  his 
danger  sure  enough.  It  was  said  of  this  man,  that 
he  possessed  a  large  estate,  was  very  influential  in 
his  neighborhood,  and  was  ultimately  instrumental 
in  doing  much  good. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  347 

"At  the  dose  of  this  meeting,  one  hundred  per- 
sons connected  themselves  with  the  Church."* 

Here  we  take  leave  of  Mr.  McKendree  for  the 
present.  We  shall,  however,  meet  him  again,  moving 
in  a  more  responsible  sphere,  diiFusing  blessings 
upon  the  Church,  as  one  of  its  chief  pastors. 

Lewis  Hunt  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1798.  We, 
however,  find  no  mention  of  his  name  in  the  Gen- 
eral Minutes  until  the  following  year,  when  it  is 
recorded,  in  answer  to  the  question,  'Who  remain 
on  trial  ?  "  In  the  biographical  sketch  published  of 
him  in  the  Minutes,  we  learn  that  he  was  appointed 
to  travel  on  the  Salt  River  Circuit  his  first  year,  and 
that  "his  labors  were  greatly  blessed." 

At  the  Conference  of  1799,  he  was  appointed  to 
the  'Nqw  River  Circuit,  in  Virginia,  on  which  he 
spent  the  first  part  of  the  year ;  f  and  was  then  sent 
into  the  North-western  Territory,  to  take  charge  of 
the  Miami  Circuit,  which  had  been  formed  by  John 
Kobler.  Suffering  from  pulmonary  disease,  and  in 
consequence  of  his  immense  labors  and  exposures, 
he  became  prostrate,  and  Avas  unable  to  fulfill  his 
appointments,  when  Henry  Smith  was  sent  to  re- 
lieve him. 

Somewhat  improved  in  health, J  he  prosecuted  his 
ministerial  labors  until  the  spring  of  1800,  when, 
with  a  prostrated  constitution,  he  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  was  placed  on  the  Hinkstone   Circuit 

^Biographical  Sketches,  pp.  49,  50,  51,  52. 

f  Judge  Scott. 

X  Methodist  Magazine,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  271. 


348  METHODISM 

by  Mr.  Burke,  who  then  had  charge  of  the  Dis- 
trict. * 

At  the  October  session  of  1800,  (the  same  Confer- 
ence reported  in  the  General  Minutes  for  1801,)  we 
find  him,  in  connection  with  Burke  and  Wilkerson, 
on  the  Hinkstone  and  Lexington  Circuit.  Spend- 
ing a  few  months  at  his  father's,  in  Fleming  county, 
his  health  so  improved  as  to  enable  him  to 
enter  once  more  on  his  labors  in  the  ministry. 
He  proceeded  to  Lexington,  and  preached  dur- 
ing the  winter,  confining  himself  chiefly  to  the 
town,  where  he  was  greatly  beloved,  and  where, 
under  his  labors,  there  was  considerable  religious 
interest.  In  the  following  March,  he  was  com- 
pletely prostrated,  and,  unable  longer  to  continue  in 
the  effective  work,  he  returned  to  his  father's  house. 
At  the  Conference  of  1801,  he  was  appointed,  with 
Henry  Smith,  to  the  Limestone  Circuit,  in  the 
bounds  of  which  his  father  resided.  But  his  work 
was  done.  ''  In  apparent  possession  of  an  assured 
peace  with  God,  and  a  calm  and  tranquil  mind,  on 
the  8th  of  the  following  December,"  f  he  rested  from 
his  labors. 

Mr.  Hunt  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  a  young 
man  of  promising  abilities.  Judge  Scott  says: 
"He  was  a  tall,  slender  young  man,  with  a  de- 
pressed cheek.  He  possessed  great  zeal,  and  ex- 
erted himself  beyond  his  natural  strength.  He  was 
a  very  humble,  sociable  man,  whose  labors  in  the 
ministry  were  greatly  blessed." 

^TiQV.  William  Burke,  in  Western  Methodism,  p.  50. 
f  General  Minutes  M.  E.  Church,  Vol.  I.,  p.  lO'J. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  349 

The  name  of  William  Marsh  also  appears  on  the 
roll  of  the  Appointments  for  Kentucky,  for  this 
year.  His  appointment  was  to  the  Salt  River  and 
Shelby  Circuit,  and  the  following  year  to  the  Dan- 
ville, after  which  his  name  disappears  from  the 
Minutes. 

To  trace  the  progress  of  the  revival  which  com- 
menced under  the  labors  of  the  two  brothers,  John 
and  William  McGee,  in  1799,  and  to  which  we  have 
frequently  referred,  belongs  to  this  period  of  our 
history.  "Extraordinary  seasons  of  religious  inter- 
est, denominated  revivals  of  religion,  have  existed  in 
the  American  Churches  from  a  very  early  period  of 
their  history.  .  .  .  The  celebrated  Jonathan  Edwards, 
author  of  the  Treatise  on  the  Will,  states  that  his 
grandfather,  who  preceded  him  as  pastor  of  the 
Church  in  I^orthampton,  Massachusetts,  was  favored, 
during  his  ministry,  with  five  seasons  of  this  kind, 
which  he  called  his  -harvests,'  occurring  at  various 
intervals  during  a  space  of  forty  years.  His  father, 
he  also  says,  had  four  or  five  similar  periods  of  '  re- 
freshing from  on  high,'  among  the  people  of  his 
charge,  and  that  such  had  been  the  case  with  many 
others  of  the  early  ministers.  .  .  .  The  early  awaken- 
ings, mentioned  above,  seem  to  have  been  generally 
of  a  calm  and  silent  character,  and  it  rarely  hap- 
pened that  two  congregations  were  visited  at  the 
same  time.  ... 

"In  the  year  1735,  a  remarkable  change  took 
place  in  this  respect.  An  increased  power  and 
wider  extent  were  given  to  the  dispensations  of  the 
Spirit;   a  large  tract  of  country  became,  this  and 


350  METHODISM 

the  following  year,  the  seat  of  numerous  awaken- 
ings, which,  about  this  time,  took  the  name  of 
revivals.  The  revival  of  1735  commenced  at  IlTorth- 
ampton,  Massachusetts,  under  the  preaching  of 
Jonathan  Edwards.  The  preaching  of  Mr.  Ed- 
wards, which  gave  rise  to  this  revival — like  all 
preaching  which  prepares  the  way  for  extensive 
reformations — w^as  doctrinal  in  its  character.  He 
dwelt,  with  great  force  of  argument  and  closeness 
of  application,  on  the  leading  doctrines  of  grace, 
which  had  begun  to  lose  their  power  in  the  prevail- 
ing declension;  justification  by  faith  alone,  the 
necessity  of  the  Spirit's  influence,  and  kindred 
topics."* 

"The  term  'revival,'  by  common  consent,  has 
been  appropriated  to  signify  a  work  of  God,  turning 
the  attention  of  a  considerable  number  in  a  place 
to  the  things  of  eternity,  and  bringing  many  in  a 
short  time  to  the  saving  knowledge  of  the  truth  as 
it  is  in  Jesus.  It  is  the  ordinary  effect  of  the  gospel 
graciously  intensified — the  conversion  of  a  large 
number  in  a  short  time.  The  conversion  of  one 
sinner  gladdens  the  Church,  and  makes  a  new  song 
in  heaven.  These  emotions  must  be  greatly  height- 
ened and  enhanced  by  a  multiplication  of  such 
cases,  and  these  constitute  what  we  call  a  '  revival.' 
Then  the  preacher  sees  the  fruit  of  his  labors,  and, 
in  a  modified  sense,  Christ  sees  the  travail  of  his 
soul,  and  is  satisfied.  For  the  Church  to  be  with- 
out these  visitations,  is  proof  of  worldliness,  de- 

^Bainl's  Eoligion  in  Amorica,  pp.  392,  395,  396. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  351 

clension,  perilous  backsliding.  To  deprecate  and 
denounce  them,  as  some  do,  involves  a  forfeiture  of 
right  to  be  considered  a  Christian  organization. 

"  These  religious  excitements  are  not  only  the 
glory  and  rejoicing  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  but  are 
her  stability  of  life.  In  the  darkest  period  of  history, 
they  have  saved  her  from  extinction.  In  the  broad- 
est sense,  she  cannot  prosper  without  them.  The 
history  of  the  apostles  is  a  history  of  revivals.  On 
the  day  of  Pentecost,  the  kingdom  of  heaven  was 
opened  to  the  Gentile  world  by  a  revival.  This  was 
not  merely  an  initial  fact,  but  a  glorious  type — a 
pattern  as  to  mode,  and  a  warrant  to  our  largest 
hopes.  The  Eeformation  was  accompanied  and  fol- 
lowed by  revivals.  England,  Scotland,  Ireland, 
were  visited  by  these  gracious  outpourings  of  the 
Spirit  in  the  times  of  the  Puritans,  in  the  days  of 
Wesley  and  Whitefield.  Under  the  ministry  of 
Edwards,  Tennent,  and  others,  Kew  England  shared 
in  revivals.  About  the  close  of  the  past  century, 
and  the  beginning  of  the  present,  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee  were  the  scene  of  the  most  marvelous 
manifestations  known  to  the  Church.  Among  the 
leading  denominations  of  the  country,  and  those  to 
whom  we  are  most  indebted  for  a  pure,  living  reli- 
gion, these  events  are  more  frequent  and  numerous, 
as  years  roll  on.  Philosophy  and  the  history  of 
Christianity  unite  to  assure  us  that  they  will  multi- 
ply and  increase,  till  one  general  revival  shall  spread 
over  the  globe.  "What  we  have  seen  is  but  the  first- 
fruits  of  the  coming  harvest.  The  Church  should 
enlarge  her  desires  upon  this  subject.     Incidental 


352  METHODISM 

conversions,  in  connection  with  the  ordinary  means 
of  grace,  are  to  be  desired  and  expected,  but  on  this 
plan  the  Church  can  never  keep  pace  with  the  pop- 
ulation of  the  world.  She  must  have  her  reaping- 
seasons  as  well  as  her  time  of  culture — harvests  as 
well  as  seed-time.  The  very  progress  of  the  Church 
will  make  these  ingatherings  more  and  more  neces- 
sary. Her  triumph  will  awaken  opposition,  and,  to 
maintain  her  ground  and  push  her  victories,  she 
must  have  revivals.  They  are  indispensable  to  her 
vigor,  expansion,  and  final  universality."  * 

We  have  previously  announced  that  Mr.  McKen- 
dree,  who  had  been  an  active  participant  in  the 
revivals  in  Southern  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  was 
the  first  preacher  to  present  their  character  to  the 
people  in  the  central  portion  of  the  State.  Glo- 
rious as  had  been  the  displays  of  Divine  power 
under  the  labors  of  the  gifted  McGees  and  their 
pious  compeers,  in  the  years  of  1799  and  1800,  and 
encouraging  as  had  been  the  frequent  revivals  that, 
in  Central  Kentucky,  had  blessed  the  Church  during 
the  same  period,  it  was  reserved  for  the  summer  and 
autumn  of  1801  to  claim  far  grander  achievements 
in  the  cause  of  truth — as  these  revivals  spread  into 
upper  Kentuck}^ — than  had  distinguished  them  in 
their  introduction. 

In  1801,  "the  quarterly  meeting  for  Hinkstone 
Circuit  was  held  early  in  June,  at  Owens's  Meeting- 
house, on  Four-mile  Creek,  commencing  on  Friday, 


*  Bishop  Pierce,  at  the  dedication  of  Broadway  M.  E.  Church, 
South,  Louisville,  Kentucky,  Septorahor  15,  18G7. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  353 

and  breaking  up  on  Monday  morning.  At  this 
meeting  was  the  first  appearance  of  that  astonishing- 
revival  to  which  we  have  alluded.  Several  professed 
to  get  religion,  and  many  were  under  deep  convic- 
tion for  sin,  and  the  meeting  continued  from  Sunday 
morning  till  Monday  morning,  with  but  little  inter- 
mission. From  thence  Brother  Lakin  and  myself 
proceeded  in  company,  on  Monday  morning,  to  a 
Presbyterian  sacrament  at  Salem  Meeting-house,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Col.  John  Martin's.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Lyle  was  pastor  of  that  Church.  There  had  been 
during  the  occasion  more  than  ordinary  attention 
and  seriousness  manifested.  I  arrived  on  the 
ground  before  the  first  sermon  was  concluded,  and 
during  the  interval  they  insisted  on  my  preaching 
the  next  sermon ;  and,  notwithstanding  I  was  much 
fatigued  from  the  labors  of  the  quarterly  meeting,  I 
at  length  consented,  and  commenced  about  2  o'clock 
P.M.  I  took  for  my  text,  *  To  you  is  the  word  of 
this  salvation  sent ; '  and  before  I  concluded  there 
was  a  great  trembling  among  the  dry  bones.  Great 
numbers  fell  to  the  ground  and  cried  for  mercy,  old 
and  young.  Brother  Lakin  followed  with  one  of  his 
then  powerful  exhortations,  and  the  work  increased. 
The  Presbyterian  ministers  stood  astonished,  not 
knowing  what  to  make  of  such  a  tumult.  Brother 
Lakin  and  myself  proceeded  to  exhort  and  pray  with 
them.  Some  obtained  peace  with  God  before  the 
meeting  broke  up.  This  was  the  first  appearance 
of  the  revival  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  From 
these  two  meetings  the  heavenly  flame  spread  in 
every  direction.     Preachers  and  people,  when  they 

VOL.  I. — 12 


354  METHODISM 

assembled  for  meeting,  always  expected  the  Lord  to 
meet  with  them.  Our  next  quarterly  meeting  was 
for  Lexington  Circuit,  at  Jesse  Griffith's,  Scott 
county.  On  Saturday  we  had  some  indications  of 
a  good  work.  On  Saturday  night  we  had  preaching 
in  different  parts  of  the  neighborhood,  which,  at 
that  time,  was  the  custom;  so  that  every  local 
preacher  and  exhorter  was  employed  in  the  work. 
Success  attended  the  meetings,  and  on  Sunday 
morning  they  came  in  companies,  singing  and 
shouting  on  the  road.  Love-feast  was  opened  on 
Sunday  morning,  at  8  o'clock,  and  such  was  the 
power  and  presence  of  God,  that  the  doors  were 
thrown  open,  and  the  work  became  general,  and 
continued  till  Monday  afternoon,  during  which 
time  numbers  experienced  justification  by  faith  in 
the  name  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  work  spread  now 
into  the  several  circuits.  Salt  River  and  Shelby 
were  visited,  and  Danville  shared  in  the  blessing ; 
also  the  Presbyterian  Church  caught  the  fire.  Con- 
gregations w^ere  universally  wakened  up :  Mc^tTa- 
mer's  congregation,  on  Cabin  Creek;  Barton  Stone's, 
at  Cane  Ridge ;  Reynolds's,  near  Ruddell's  Station 
and  in  Paris;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lyle,  at  Salem;  Mr. 
Rankin,  Walnut  Hills;  Mr.  Blythe,  at  Lexington 
and  "Woodford ;  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Walsh,  at  Cane 
Run  ;  likewise  in  Madison  county,  under  the  minis- 
try of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Houston.  The  work  extended 
to  Ohio  at  Lower  Springfield,  Hamilton  county ; 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson's  congregation  and  Eagle 
Creek;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dunlavey's  congregation,  Ad- 
ams county.     The  Methodist  local  preachers  and 


IN    KENTUCKY.  355 

exhorters,  and  the  members  generally,  united  with 
them  in  carrying  on  the  work,  for  they  were  at  home 
wherever  God  was  pleased  to  manifest  his  power ; 
and  having  had  some  experience  in  such  a  school, 
were  able  to  teach  others.     The  Presbyterian  min- 
isters saw  the  advantage  of  such  auxiliaries,  and 
were  pressing  in  their  invitations,  both  for  the  trav- 
eling and  local  preachers,  to  attend  their  sacraments 
through  the   months   of  July  and  August.     The 
Rev.  Barton  Stone  w^as  pastor  of  the   Church   at 
Cane  Eidge.     I  had  been  formerly  acquainted  with 
him  when  he  traveled  as  a  missionary  in  the  Hol- 
ston  and  Cumberland  country,  previous  to  his  set- 
tling at  Cane  Ridge  ;  and  we  agreed  to  have  a  united 
sacrament  of  the  Presbyterians  and  Methodists  at 
the  Cane  Ridge  Meeting-house,  in  August.     The 
meeting  was  published,  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  country,  to  commence  on  Friday. 
On  the  first  day,  I  arrived   in  the  neighborhood; 
but  it  was  a  rainy  day,  and  I  did  not  attend  on  the 
ground.      On   Saturday  morning  I  attended.     On 
Friday  and  Friday  night  they  held  meeting  in  the 
meeting-house ;  and  such  was  the  power  and  pres- 
ence of  God  on  Frida}^  night,  that  the  meeting  con- 
tinued all  night ;  and  next  morning,  Saturday,  they 
repaired  to  a  stand  erected  in  the  woods — the  work 
still  going  on  in  the  house — which  continued  there 
till  Wednesday,  without  intermission.    On  Saturday 
the  congregation  was  very  numerous.    The  Presby- 
terians continued  to  occupy  the  stand  during  Satur- 
day and  Saturday  night,  whenever  they  could  get  a 
chance  to  be  heard,  but  never  invited  any  Meth- 


356  METHODISM 

oclist  preacher  to  preach.  On  Sunday  morning  Mr. 
Stone,  with  some  of  the  Eklers  of  the  Session, 
waited  upon  me,  to  have  a  conference  on  the  sub- 
ject of  the  approaching  sacrament,  which  was  to  be 
administered  in  the  afternoon.  The  object  in  call- 
ing on  me  was,  that  I  should  make  from  the  stand 
a  public  declaration  how  the  Methodists  held  certain 
doctrines,  etc.  I  told  them  w^e  preached  every  day, 
and  that  our  doctrines  were  published  to  the  world 
through  the  press.  Come  and  hear,  go  and  read ; 
and  if  that  was  the  condition  on  w^hich  w^e  were  to 
unite  in  the  sacrament,  '  Every  man  to  his  tent,  0 
Israel ! '  for  I  should  require  of  him  to  make  a  pub- 
lic declaration  of  their  belief  in  certain  doctrines. 
He  then  replied  that  we  had  better  drop  the  subject ; 
that  he  was  perfectly  satisfied,  but  that  some  of  his 
Elders  were  not.  I  observed  that  they  might  do  as 
they  thought  best;  but  the  subject  got  out  among 
the  Methodists,  and  a  number  did  not  partake  of 
the  sacrament,  as  none  of  our  preachers  were  invited 
to  assist  in  administering. 

"  There  is  a  mistaken  opinion  with  regard  to  this 
meeting.  Some  writers  of  late  represent  it  as  hav- 
ing been  a  camp-meeting.  It  is  true,  there  were  a 
number  of  wagons  and  carriages,  which  remained 
on  the  ground  night  and  day ;  but  not  a  single  tent 
was  to  be  found,  neither  was  any  such  thing  as 
camp-meetings  heard  of  at  that  time.  Preaching  in 
the  w^oods  was  a  common  thing  at  popular  meetings, 
as  meeting-houses  in  the  West  were  not  sufficient 
to  hold  the  large  number  of  people  that  attended  on 
such  occasions.     This  was  the  case  at  Cane  Ilidge. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  357 

"On  Sunday  morning,  when  I  came  on  the 
ground,  I  was  met  by  my  friends,  to  know  if  I  was 
going  to  preach  for  them  on  that  day.  I  told  them 
I  had  not  been  invited ;  if  I  w^as,  I  should  certainly 
do  so.  The  morning  passed  off,  but  no  invitation. 
Between  ten  and  eleven,  I  found  a  convenient  place 
on  the  body  of  a  fallen  tree,  about  fifteen  feet  from 
the  ground,  where  I  fixed  my  stand  in  the  open  sun, 
with  an  umbrella  affixed  to  a  long  pole,  and  held 
over  my  head  by  Brother  Hugh  Barnes.  I  com- 
menced reading  a  hymn  with  an  audible  voice,  and 
by  the  time  we  concluded  singing  and  praying,  we 
had  around  us,  standing  on  their  feet,  by  fair  calcu- 
lation, ten  thousand  people.  I  gave  out  my  text  in 
the  following  words :  '  For  w^e  shall  all  stand  before 
the  judgment-seat  of  Christ;'  and  before  I  con- 
cluded, my  voice  was  not  to  be  heard  for  the  groans 
of  the  distressed  and  the  shouts  of  triumph.  Hun- 
dreds fell  prostrate  to  the  ground,  and  the  work 
continued  on  that  spot  till  Wednesday  afternoon. 
It  was  estimated  by  some  that  not  less  than  &Ye 
hundred  were  at  one  time  lying  on  the  ground  in 
the  deepest  agonies  of  distress,  and  every  few  min- 
utes rising  in  shouts  of  triumph.  Toward  the  even- 
ing I  pitched  the  only  tent  on  the  ground.  Having 
been  accustomed  to  travel  the  wilderness,  I  soon 
had  a  tent  constructed  out  of  poles  and  pawpaw 
bushes.  Here  I  remained  Sunday  and  Sunday 
night,  and  Monday  night;  and  during  that  time 
there  was  not  a  single  moment's  cessation,  but  the 
work  w^ent  on,  and  old  and  young,  men,  women, 
and  children,  were  converted  to  God.     It  was  esti- 


358  METHODISM 

mated  that  on  Sunday  and  Sunday  night  there  were 
twenty  thousand  people  on  the  ground.  They  had 
come  from  far  and  near,  from  all  parts  of  Kentucky ; 
some  from  Tennessee,  and  from  north  of  the  Ohio 
River ;  so  that  tidings  of  Cane  Eidge  Meeting  was 
carried  to  almost  every  corner  of  the  country,  and 
the  holy  fire  spread  in  all  directions."  * 

"We  also  copy  the  following  account  of  these 
meetings  from  the  pen  of  the  Eev.  Thomas  S. 
Hinde,  to  whom  we  are  largely  indebted  for  much 
in  reference  to  early  Methodism  in  the  West ; 

"  The  Eev.  William  McKendree,  (now  Bishop,) 
Presiding  Elder  of  the  District,  was  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  State  about  the  commencement  of  the 
revival,  and  became  much  engaged  in  it.  In  the 
latter  part  of  1800,  or  early  in  1801,  (if  my  recollec- 
tion serves  me,)  he  came  up  to  the  center  of  the 
settlement  of  the  State,  and  in  many  places  was  the 
first  to  bear  the  tidings  of  these  singular  meetings, 
which  had  so  recently  commenced,  and  had  so 
greatly  attracted  the  attention  of  multitudes.  I 
shall  never  forget  the  looks  of  the  people  who  had 
assembled  in  a  congregation  composed  mostly  of 
Methodists  and  Presbyterians,  and  their  adherents, 
when  the  old  gentleman,  after  the  conclusion  of  a 
very  pathetic  sermon,  having  been  much  animated, 
in  the  work,  gave  an  interesting  statement  of  the 
progress  of  it,  from  what  he  had  seen,  and  of  the 
meetings  before  described.  Whilst  he  spoke,  the 
very  sensations  of  his  soul  glowed  in  his  counte- 

*  Burke's  Autobiography,  in  Finlcy's  Sketches,  pp.  71-79. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  359 

nance :  his  description  of  them  was  such  as  would 
be  vain  for  me  to  attempt.  He  described  them  in 
their  native  simplicity :  he  told  of  the  happy  con- 
version of  hundreds ;  how  the  people  continued  in 
their  exercises  of  singing,  praying,  and  preaching 
on  the  ground,  surrounded  by  w^agons  and  tents, 
for  days  and  nights  together ;  that  many  were  so 
affected  that  they  fell  to  the  ground  like  men  slain 
in  battle.  The  piercing  cries  of  the  penitents,  and 
rapture  of  the  healed,  appeared  to  be  brought  to 
our  view ;  and,  what  was  equally  encouraging  to 
the  faithful,  that  the  work,  instead  of  declining, 
was  progressing  to  the  interior.  After  this  descrip- 
tion given  by  him,  it  w^as  unnecessary  to  exhort  the 
faithful  to  look  for  the  like  among  themselves. 
Their  hearts  had  already  begun  to  beat  in  unison 
with  his,  whilst  sinners  were  generally  melted  into 
tears.  As  for  my  ow^n  feelings,  though  a  stranger 
to  religion  at  that  time,  they  will  never  be  forgotten. 
I  felt,  and  I  wept. 

"  These  meetings  began,  as  the  season  permitted, 
to  make  their  gradual  approach  toward  the  center 
of  the  State.  It  was  truly  wonderful  to  see  what 
an  effect  their  approach  made  upon  the  minds  of 
the  people.  Here  in  the  wilderness  were  thousands, 
and  tens  of  thousands,  of  almost  every  nation ; 
here  were  thousands  hungry  for  the  bread  of  life, 
and  thousands  thirsting  for  the  waters  of  salvation. 
A  general  move  was  visible  in  the  congregations 
previously  to  the  arrival  of  these  meetings.  The 
devout  Christians  appeared  to  be  filled  with  hope. 
Their  hearts  were  greatly  enlarged  to  pray  for  the 


360  METHODISM 

prosperity  of  Zion.  The  formalists  were  troubled 
with  very  uneasy  sensations ;  backsliders  became 
terrified  ;  the  wicked  in  general  were  either  greatly 
alarmed  or  struck  with  solemn  awe  ;  whilst  curiosity 
was  general,  and  raised  to  the  highest  degree,  to  see 
into  these  strange  things.  Indeed,  such  was  the 
commotion,  that  every  circle  of  the  community 
appeared  to  have  their  whole  attention  arrested. 
Many  were  the  conjectures  respecting  these  meet- 
ings. Things,  however,  did  not  continue  long  to 
keep  the  attention  of  the  people  in  suspense.  The 
camp-meetings  began  to  approach  nearer  and  nearer 
to  the  center ;  when  one  meeting  after  another  was 
soon  appointed  in  succession,  and  the  number  that 
attended  them  is  almost  incredible  to  tell.  When 
collected  on  the  ground,  and  whilst  the  meetings 
continued,  such  crowds  would  be  passing  and  re- 
passing, that  the  roads,  paths,  and  woods,  appeared 
to  be  literally  strewn  with  people !  Whole  settle- 
ments and  neighborhoods  would  appear  to  be 
vacated ;  and  such  was  the  draught  from  them,  that 
it  was  only  here  and  there  that  a  solitary  house 
would  contain  an  aged  housekeeper — young  and  old 
generally  pressing  through  every  difficulty  to  see 
the  camj)-meeting.  The  Presbyterians  and  Method- 
ists now  united  in  them;  hence  it  was  that  they 
took  the  name  of  General  Camp-meetings.  This 
union  continued  until  circumstances  hereafter  men- 
tioned produced  a  separation.  On  the  30th  January, 
1801,  one  writes,  giving  an  account  of  the  work  as 
it  first  appeared :  '  The  work  is  still  increasing  in 
Cumberland.     It  has  overspread  the  whole  country. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  361 

It  is   in  l^ashville,  Barren,  Muddy,   Gasper,  Red 

Banks,  Knoxville,  etc.     J.  M.  C has  been  there 

two  months :  he  says  it  exceeds  any  thing  he  ever 
saw  or  heard  of.  Children  and  all  seem  to  be 
engaged;  but  children  are  the  most  active  in  the 
work.  When  they  speak,  it  appears  that  the  Lord 
sends  his  Spirit  to  accompany  it  with  power  to  the 
hearts  of  sinners.  They  all  seem  to  be  exercised 
in  an  extraordinary  way — lie  as  though  they  were 
dead  for  some  time,  without  pulse  or  breath ;  some 
a  longer,  some  a  shorter  time.  Some  rise  with  joy 
triumphant,  others  crying  for  mercy.  As  soon  as 
they  obtain  comfort,  they  cry  to  sinners,  exhorting 
them  to  come  to  the  Lord.' 

''These  General  Camp-meetings  not  only  came 
up  to  this  description,  but  far  exceeded  it.  Early 
this  spring  a  w^ork  broke  out  in  Madison  county. 
On  the  22d  day  of  May,  this  year,  a  camp-meeting 
was  held  on  Cabin  Creek.  The  next  General  Camp- 
meeting  was  held  at  Concord,  in  Bourbon  county, 
the  last  Monday  in  May,  or  beginning  of  June,  and 
continued  five  days  and  four  nights.  The  next 
General  Meeting  was  at  Point  Pleasant,  Kentucky. 
The  next,  at  Indian  Creek,  Harrison  county,  began 
24th  July,  and  continued  about  five  days  and  nights. 
The  Great  General  Camp  -  meeting,  held  at  Cane 
Ridge,  seven  miles  from  Paris,  Bourbon  county, 
began  on  the  6th  day  of  August,  and  continued  a 
week.  This  meeting  will  be  particularly  noticed 
hereafter.  Independent  of  these  General  Meetings, 
the  Methodists  had  many  great  and  glorious  meet- 
ings unconnected  with  their  Presbyterian  brethren. 


362  METHODISM 

Indeed,  these  meetings  in  each  denomination  were 
soon  spread  over  the  country,  and  this  year  extended 
over  the  Ohio  River,  into  the  North-west  Territory, 
now  State  of  Ohio. 

"Having  been  raised  in  this  State,  the  writer, 
then  a  youth,  has  many  circumstances  fresh  upon 
his  mind  with  regard  to  this  great  work  ;  but  in  aid 
of  this  narrative  he  is  disposed  to  take  along  what- 
ever he  finds  that  may  be  correctly  given  by  others. 
*At  first  appearance,'  says  one,  'these  meetings  ex- 
hibited nothing  to  the  spectator,  unacquainted  with 
them,  but  a  scene  of  confusion,  such  as  scarce  could 
be  put  into  human  language.  They  were  generally 
opened  with  a  sermon,  at  the  close  of  which  there 
would  be  an  universal  outcry ;  some  bursting  forth 
into  loud  ejaculations  of  prayer,  or  thanksgiving  for 
the  truth ;  others  breaking  out  in  emphatical  sen- 
tences of  exhortation ;  others  flying  to  their  careless 
friends,  with  tears  of  compassion,  beseeching  them 
to  turn  to  the  Lord ;  some  struck  with  terror,  and 
hastening  through  the  crowd  to  make  their  escape, 
or  pulling  away  their  relations ;  others  trembling, 
weeping,  crying  out  for  the  Lord  Jesus  to  have 
mercy  on  them ;  fainting  and  swooning  away,  till 
every  appearance  of  life  was  gone,  and  the  extremi- 
ties of  the  body  assumed  the  coldness  of  death; 
others  surrounding  them  with  melodious  songs,  or 
fervent  prayers  for  their  happy  conversion ;  others, 
collecting  into  circles  round  this  variegated  scene, 
contending  with  arguments  for  and  against  the 
work.  This  scene  frequently  continued,  without 
intermission,   for  days  and   nights   together.'     At 


IN    KENTUCKY.  363 

these  meetings  many  circumstances  transpired  well 
worth  relating,  and  very  interesting,  but  it  would 
overleap  our  limits  to  narrate  them — one  at  this 
time  must  suffice :  ^At  Indian  Creek,  a  boy,  from 
appearance  about  twelve  years  of  age,  retired  from 
the  stand  in  time  of  preaching,  under  very  extra- 
ordinary impressions,  and,  having  mounted  a  log  at 
some  distance,  and  raising  his  voice  in  a  very 
affecting  manner,  he  attracted  the  main  body  of  the 
people  in  a  very  few  minutes.  With  tears  stream- 
ing from  his  eyes,  he  cried  aloud  to  the  wicked, 
warning  them  of  their  danger,  denouncing  their 
certain  doom,  if  they  persisted  in  their  sins ;  ex- 
pressing his  love  to  their  souls,  and  desire  that  they 
would  turn  to  the  Lord  and  be  saved.  He  was  held 
up  by  two  men,  and  spoke  for  about  an  hour,  with 
that  convincing  eloquence  that  could  be  inspired 
only  from  above.  When  his  strength  seemed  quite 
exhausted,  and  language  failed  to  describe  the  feel- 
ings of  his  soul,  he  raised  his  hand,  and,  dropping 
his  handkerchief,  wet  with  sweat  from  his  little  face, 
cried  out:  "Thus,  0  sinner!  shall  you  drop  into 
hell,  unless  you  forsake  your  sins  and  turn  to  the 
Lord."  At  that  moment,  some  fell  like  those  who 
are  shot  in  battle,  and  the  work  spread  in  a  manner 
which  human  language  cannot  describe.' 

"  The  numbers  attending  the  camp-meetings  at 
this  early  period,  (1801,)  on  daily  visits,  whilst  the 
meetings  continued,  and  those  attending  them  in 
their  encampments,  were  immense.  The  numbers 
varied,  according  to  the  population  of  the  settle- 
ments where  the   meetings  were  held,  and   other 


364  METHODISM 

circumstances,  from  three  to  twenty  tlionsand  souls  ! 
At  one  of  these  meetings  (Cabin  Creek)  the  scene 
was  awful  beyond  description  ;  'few,  if  any,  escaped 
without  being  affected.  Such  as  tried  to  run  from 
it  were  frequently  struck  on  the  way,  or  impelled  by 
some  alarming  signal  to  return.  !N'o  circumstance 
at  this  meeting  appeared  more  striking  than  the 
great  numbers  that  fell  on  the  third  night ;  and  to 
prevent  their  being  trodden  under  foot  by  the  mul- 
titude, they  were  collected  together,  and  laid  out  in 
order,  on  two  squares  of  the  meeting-house,  till  a 
considerable  part  of  the  floor  was  covered.  But  the 
great  meeting  at  Cane  Ridge  exceeded  all.  The 
number  that  fell  at  this  meeting  was  reckoned  at 
about  three  thousand,  among  whom  were  several 
Presbyterian  ministers,  who,  according  to  their  own 
confession,  had  hitherto  possessed  only  a  speculative 
knowledge  of  religion.  Here  the  formal  professor, 
the  deist,  and  the  intemperate,  met  in  one  common 
lot,  and  confessed  with  equal  candor  that  they  were 
destitute  of  the  true  knowledge  of  God,  and  strangers 
to  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ.'  One  of  the  most 
zealous  and  active  Presbyterian  ministers  estimated 
the  number  collected  on  the  ground  at  twenty  thou- 
sand souls  !  At  this  meeting,  as  well  as  at  all  others, 
wherever  the  work  broke  out,  the  Methodists  ap- 
peared to  be  more  active  and  more  in  their  element 
than  any  other  people.  Indeed,  when  it  first  ap- 
peared in  most  of  the  other  congregations,  other 
ministers  were  so  alarmed,  not  knowing  what  to 
make  of  it,  that  they  would  have  deserted  it,  and 
their  meetings  too,  had  they  not  been  encouraged 


IN     KENTUCKY.  365 

by  the  Methodists.  But  they  soon  joined,  and 
moved  forward  cordially  in  the  work.  Having 
been  thus  inured  and  prepared,  this  great  meet- 
ing brought  on  a  general  engagement.  It  was 
necessary  that  such  a  concourse  should  be  scattered 
over  a  considerable  extent  of  ground.  Of  course 
there  were  several  congregations  formed,  in  different 
parts  of  the  encampment,  for  preaching  and  other 
religious  exercises.  In  consequence  of  so  great  a 
collection  of  people,  it  frequently  happened  that 
several  preachers  would  be  speaking  at  once,  to 
congregations  as  before  described,  generally  em- 
bracing some  of  each  denomination.  Nor  were 
they  at  a  loss  for  pulpits :  stumps,  logs,  or  lops  of 
trees  served  as  temporary  stands  from  which  to  dis- 
pense the  word  of  life.  At  night,  the  whole  scene 
was  awfully  sublime.  The  ranges  of  tents,  the 
fires,  reflecting  light  amidst  the  branches  of  the 
towering  trees ;  the  candles  and  lamps  illuminating 
the  encampment ;  hundreds  moving  to  and  fro,  with 
lights  or  torches,  like  Gideon's  army ;  the  preach- 
ing, praying,  singing,  and  shouting — all  heard  at 
once,  rushing  from  different  parts  of  the  ground, 
like  the  sound  of  many  waters,  was  enough  to  swal- 
low up  all  the  powers  of  contemplation.  Sinners 
falling,  and  shrieks  and  cries  for  mercy,  awakened 
in  the  mind  a  lively  apprehension  of  that  scene 
when  the  awful  sound  will  be  heard,  *Arise,  ye  dead, 
and  come  to  judgment !'  "* 

The  Rev.  Learner  Blackman,  in  his  manuscript 

*  Methodist  Magazine,  Vol.  II,  pp.  221,  222,  223,  224,  272,  273. 


366  METHODISM 

in  our  possession,  says:  "In  the  time  of  the  great 
revival  in  Cumberland,  so  great  was  the  work,  and 
so  novel  the  exercises  of  many  who  were  the  sub- 
jects of  the  work,  that  it  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  jDcople  of  all  ranks  in  society,  to  come  out  to 
meeting  and  see  for  themselves.  They  flocked  to- 
gether by  scores,  by  hundreds,  and  by  thousands,  to 
sacramental  and  other  meetings.  Many  who  came 
out  to  speculate,  or  to  gratify  curiosity,  stood  ap- 
palled, as  if  thunder-struck,  when  they  saw  the 
exercises,  and  heard  the  groans  and  cries  of  the  dis- 
tressed, which  were  enough  to  rend  the  heavens  and 
pierce  the  hardest  heart.  Such  was  the  solemnity 
of  the  work,  that  the  preachers  for  some  time  for- 
bade singing  as  being  too  light  an  exercise,  when 
there  were  so  many  solemn  appearances." 

In  these  extraordinary  meetings,  while  the  vari- 
ous Christian  denominations  bore  a  part,  harmo- 
nizing their  views,  and  uniting  in  the  bonds  of  the 
gospel,  preaching  ''repentance  toward  God,  and 
faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  it  cannot  be 
denied  that  by  the  ministry  and  membership  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  this  work  was  pro- 
moted more  than  by  any  other  instrumentality. 
While  ministers  of  other  Communions  often  stood 
appalled,  and  sometimes  abandoned  the  field, 
McKendree,  Burke,  :N"orthcutt,  and  their  associates, 
stood  firmly  at  their  posts,  laboring  in  the  altars, 
and  under  God  leading  the  Church  to  the  loftier 
altitudes  of  Christianity. 

We  would  not,  however,  deny  to  our  brethren  of 
other  denominations  their  proper  meed  of  praise. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  367 

Many  of  the  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
among  whom  we  may  mention  John  Lyle,  James 
McGready,  Robert  Marshall,  and  Barton  W.  Stone, 
stood  side  by  side  with  our  fathers  in  this  great 
work. 

Amongst  the  laity  in  our  Church,  the  energy  and 
piety  of  many  of  the  members  shone  conspicuously, 
prominent  among  whom  was  Ilai  Kunn,  the  father 
of  William  Nunn,  now  residing  at  Millersburg, 
Kentucky,  and  the  grandfather  of  the  Rev.  John  P. 
Durbin,  D.  D.  Mr.  i^unn  was  among  the  early  emi- 
grants to  Kentucky,  having  settled  in  the  District 
about  1783.  "His  first  settlement  was  on  the  bank  of 
a  small  creek,  known  as  Clear  Creek,  near  Lexington. 
Remaining  there  for  two  years,  he  removed ;  he 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  near  Millersburg,  which 
he  improved,  and  which  was  widely  known  as 
'Nunn's  Farm,'  and  on  which  he  established  a 
camp-ground,  which  is  still  remembered  by  all  the 
old  citizens  of  Bourbon  county.  His  house,  one 
of  the  best  in  the  neighborhood,  was  the  home  of 
Methodist  preachers,  as  well  as  those  of  other  de- 
nominations who  chose  to  call  on  him — and  for 
many  years  the  only  preaching-place  in  the  neigh- 
^borhood.  It  was  in  the  vicinity  of  his  house  that 
the  Cane  Ridge  Meeting  was  held,  in  1801,  and  at  it 
occurred  the  most  remarkable  revival-meeting  ever 
held  on  this  continent.  At  this  meeting  he  was 
an  active  lay-member."*-  He  lived  many  years  to 
bless  the  Church,  and  then  entered  upon  "the  rest 
that  remaineth  to  the  people  of  God." 

*  Letter  to  the  author  from  the  Rev.  H.  A.  M.  Henderson. 


368  METHODISM 

Another  representative  amongst  the  laity  of  the 
Church  at  this  period  was  Major  John  Martin. 
"He  was  born  in  1748,  in  Albemarle  county,  Vir- 
ginia— was  a  captain,  and  was  promoted  to  major  at 
the  siege  of  Yorktown ;  stayed  in  Virginia  during 
the  Eevolutionary  war,  and  in  1784  moved  to  Ken- 
tucky. He  was  the  first  sheriff  in  Clarke  county, 
and  was  afterward  for  many  years  one  of  the  judges 
of  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  in  Clarke  county." 
Remarkable  for  the  influence  he  exerted,  it  was 
unfortunate  that  he  had  imbibed  sentiments  of  infi- 
delity, and  regarded  the  Bible  as  a  forgery  and 
religion  as  a  cheat. 

The  celebrated  Dr.  Hinde  moved  into  the  neigh- 
borhood in  which  Major  Martin  resided — the  first 
and  only  religious  family  in  all  that  community. 
Between  Dr.  Hinde  and  Major  Martin  there  grew 
up  an  intimacy,  in  which  either  the  religion  of  the 
one  or  the  infidelity  of  the  other  must  yield. 
''  Upon  one  occasion,  in  1798,  during  a  conversation 
with  Mrs.  Hinde,  in  the  presence  of  the  Doctor, 
who  had  for  many  years  been  his  boon  companion, 
the  good  lady  finally  silenced  his  rude  jests  by  a 
pointed,  yet  kind  remark,  which  sped  like  an  arrow 
of  conviction  to  his  heart;  and  there  quivering,  it 
remained,  until  withdrawn  by  the  hand  of  the 
Saviour.  'T  was  in  vain  to  attempt  a  renewal  of  the 
conversation — his  confused  thoughts  could  find  no 
words  in  which  to  express  themselves.  Thus  he 
mounted  his  horse,  and  rode  briskly  onward  to  his 
home,  for  a  warning  voice  followed  him,  and  as  the 
shadows  of  the  night  fell  thick  around  him,  he  was 


IN    KENTUCKY.  369 

seized  with  a  trembling  and  a  fear  as  he  entered  the 
darker  woods,  and  the  very  echo  of  his  horse's 
hoofs  seemed  to  repeat  the  words  of  Mrs.  Hinde. 
The  voice  of  conscience  knocked  so  loudly  at  his 
heart,  that  he  threw  himself  from  his  horse,  and  fell 
upon  his  knees,  praying  earnestly  to  that  God  whom 
he  had  hitherto  refused  to  acknowledge.  He 
reached  his  home  late  at  night,  but  not  being  able 
to  sleep,  he  wrestled,  like  Jacob,  until  the  light  of 
heaven  shone  all  around  him,  and  that  sweet,  still 
voice  which,  once  heard,  is  never  forgotten,  said,  in 
accents  of  merc}^,  'Go,  and  sin  no  more.'  There 
was  a  complete  change — the  whole  man  became  a 
loving  disciple  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  never  once 
took  a  backward  step,  and  that  perseverance  in  the 
cause  of  religion  was  the  watch-word  of  his  after 
life. 

"One  of  the  first-fruits  of  his  conversion  was  to 
close  his  eyes  to  the  flattering  vision  of  a  rich  har- 
vest of  gold,  which  he  expected  from  a  splendid 
orchard  of  peaches,  destined  to  be  converted  into 
brandy — he  turned  a  drove  of  hogs  into  the  orchard, 
and  thus  satisfied  his  awakened  conscience.  He 
was  a  man  highly  respected,  loved  for  his  amiable 
qualities,  and  admired  even  for  his  eccentricities. 
But  up  to  this  period  he  had  lived  without  God  in 
the  world,  his  companionable  qualities  rendering 
him  the  more  dangerous  to  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances.  Happy  for  him  that  just  at  this 
crisis  an  angel  troubled  the  fountains  of  his  being, 
and  in  the  outflow  of  his  after  life  there  were  cleans- 
ing and  health. 


370  METHODISM 

"  This  good  man  did  not  hide  his  light  under  a 
bushel,  but  fed  it  into  a  flame  that  burned  higher 
and  brisrhter  until  the  close  of  his  life.  Ilis  home 
became  a  house  of  prayer,  and  his  very  eccentrici- 
ties, turned  into  the  proper  channel,  were  productive 
of  good. 

"Camp-meetings,  fifty  years  ago,  afforded  many 
precious  privileges  throughout  our  sparsely  settled 
State.  These  he  loved  to  attend,  and  he  took  his 
whole  family  to  the  tented  ground.  Once  upon  a 
time,  having  brought  home  a  wagonful  of  profess- 
edly converted  negroes,  and  finding  their  lives  by 
no  means  a  practical  comment  upon  the  Scriptures 
which  he  daily  read  for  their  instruction,  he  watched 
the  opportunity  for  sending  them  all  to  another 
camp-meeting  to  be  converted  over  again. 

"  How  beautiful  the  simplicity  of  this  good  man ! 
How  scrupulously  exact  in  all  the  externals  of 
religion !  How  diligent  in  seeking  every  means 
of  grace,  and  yet  not  by  these  expecting  to  be 
saved !  No,  no  !  he  sought  to  be  approved  of  God, 
and  was  the  recipient  of  his  choicest  gifts.  His 
was  an  imperial  nature  —  the  world  knew  it,  and 
acknowledged  him  the  child  of  God."  * 

He  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  blessing  the  Church 
by  his  great  liberality,  his  pious  exhortations,  and 
godly  walk.  In  1837,  after  a  long  life  of  usefulness, 
"he  bid  adieu  to  this  world,  in  fall  view  of  his 
heavenly  inheritance." 


*  Letter  to  the  author  from  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Tcvis,  of  Sholbyville, 
Kentucky. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  371 

We  have  already  referred  to  Dr.  Thomas  Hinde. 
lie  "was  born  in  Oxfordshire,  England,  in  July, 
1737.  He  studied  regularly  both  branches  of  his  pro- 
fession— surgery  and  medicine — in  London,  under 
the  direction  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Thomas  Brookes, 
who  superintended  St.  Thomas's  Hospital.  At  the 
age  of  twenty,  Dr.  Brookes,  from  personal  friend- 
ship to  his  pupil,  and  from  an  assurance  that  his  in- 
defatigable industry  had  qualified  him  for  the  exami- 
nation, presented  him  before  the  Doctors'  Commons, 
(a  board  of  physicians  and  surgeons,)  and  would 
have  him  to  pass  an  examination  at  an  earlier  pe- 
riod of  life  by  one  year  than  was  usual  on  such  oc- 
casions. He  soon  after  obtained  for  him  a  commis- 
sion as  surgeon's  mate  on  board  the  British  navy. 
Dr.  Hinde  having  entered  the  service  of  the  govern- 
ment of  his  native  country,  he  was  ordered  into 
foreign  service,  and  the  fleet  to  which  he  was  at- 
tached arrived  at  'New  York  on  the  14th  of  June, 
1757.  He  was  with  the  squadron  at  Louisburg  the 
same  year,  and  1757-58,  wintered  at  Halifax,  ISTova 
Scotia.  In  1758,  he  was  at  the  reduction  of  Louis- 
burg, under  Amherst;  in  1759,  he  was  at  the  reduc- 
tion of  Quebec,  under  that  distinguished  general, 
Wolfe :  he  belonged  to  the  vessel  which  Wolfe  left 
to  go  on  shore,  to  contend  with  Montcalm  for  the 
palm  of  victory  on  the  plains  of  Abraham.  Soon 
after  the  fall  of  Quebec,  he  returned  to  England. 
He  was  at  the  reduction  of  Bellisle,  and  afterward 
was  promoted  to  surgeon.  After  peace  was  con- 
cluded with  France  in  1763,  having  formed  an  inti- 
mate acquaintance  with  a  young  Virginian  who  was 


372  METHODISM 

Ills  fellow-student  under  Dr.  Brookes,  he  was  in- 
duced through  his  young  friend,  who  had  returned 
home,  and  Dr.  Brookes,  to  accept  the  invitation  of 
an  aged  practicing  physician  in  Essex  county,  Vir- 
ginia, to  assist  him  in  practice,  and  ahout  1765, 
settled  himself  near  a  place  called  Hobb's  Hole,  in 
Essex  county,  Virginia.  He  afterward  removed  to 
King  and  Queen  county,  and  settled  at  a  place 
called  l:Tewtown,  which  he  purchased,  and  com- 
menced the  practice  of  surgery  and  medicine  with 
great  success. 

"In  1767,  September  24,  Dr.  Hinde  married  Mary 
T.  Hubbard,  daughter  of  his  countryman,  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin Hubbard,  an  English  merchant;  and  some 
time  after,  disposing  of  his  possessions  at  ITewtown, 
removed  to  Hanover  county,  and  settled  in  the 
neighborhood  of  that  distinguished  orator,  states- 
man, and  patriot,  Patrick  Henry,  and  became  his 
family  physician. 

"In  1788  or  1789,  the  Methodists  began  to  preach 
in  the  neighborhood.  An  elderly  gentleman,  a  High- 
churchman,  who  resided  four  or  five  miles  from  the 
Doctor's,  possessed  a  very  fine  cherry-orchard.  It 
was  usual  with  the  old  gentleman  to  give  annually 
to  the  youth  of  both  sexes  a  cherry-feast.  Indeed, 
feasting  and  amusements  constituted  the  grand 
round  of  employment  with  the  youth  of  that  day. 
He  never  failed,  on  all  such  occasions,  to  have  some 
of  the  Doctor's  family  to  attend.  His  eldest  daugh- 
ter had  married  and  moved  away;  his  second  was 
then  just  grown  up,  and  about  this  time  she 
attended.     Old   Mv.  David  Richardson  (the  High- 


IN    KENTUCKY.  373 

churchman)  was  a  great  opposer  of  the  Methodists: 
two  of  his  sons  had  attended  their  meeting,  contrary 
to  his  express  orders,  and  both  of  them  had  returned 
under  serious  awakenings.  They  were  young  and 
inexperienced,  and  did  not  know  what  to  do  or 
where  to  go,  but  they  dreaded  their  father's  wrath : 
however,  they  returned  home,  and  the  old  man 
having  learned  that  they  had  attended  one  of  those 
meetings,  seized  the  oldest  by  the  collar,  and  while 
he  was  dealing  out  his  blows  with  his  staff  in  a 
most  unmerciful  manner,  his  son  professed  to  get 
converted,  and  praised  the  Lord.  The  father  soon 
after  was  seized  with  remorse  of  conscience,  and  in 
order  to  make  some  atonement  for  what  he  had 
done,  caused  his  large  barn  to  be  removed  to  a 
beautiful  grove,  near  an  excellent  spring  of  water, 
and  fitted  it  up  for  a  Methodist  chapel.  And  al- 
though this  old  gentleman  for  a  long  time  continued 
to  be  an  opposer  to  vital  piety,  yet  at  his  death,  I 
am  informed,  he  sought  the  Lord  and  found  mercy. 
His  eldest  son  at  that  early  day  was  so  filled  with 
love  and  zeal  in  the  good  cause  of  the  blessed  Ee- 
deemer,  (alas !  since  backslid,)  that  he  turned  upon 
the  Doctor's  daughter.  He  admonished  her  of  the 
error  of  her  ways,  her  sinful  state  by  nature,  of  the 
necessity  of  a  change  of  heart,  and  of  the  awful 
consequences  of  dying  unprepared  to  meet  God.  It 
made  a  deep,  and  ultimately  a  lasting,  impression 
upon  her  mind ;  and  through  the  day,  while  she  was 
reflecting  on  the  subject,  very  serious  convictions 
reached  her  heart.  In  the  evening,  she  threw  her- 
self upon  the  bed,  and  in  great  agony  began  to  pray 


374  METHODISM 

to  the  Lord  to  have  mercy  upon  her  soul.  But  O 
how  gloomy  was  her  situation !  She  hegan  not  only 
to  reflect  upon  her  own  case,  hut  saw  the  situation 
in  which  her  parents  were  also.  She  was  induced 
afterward  to  attend  a  meeting,  hut  it  was  a  Meth- 
odist meeting !  and  now,  how  could  she  meet  her 
parents  ?  Her  father  a  confirmed  deist,  her  mother 
cheerful  and  lively,  she  herself  hrought  up  in  the 
gayest  circle  of  society — she  could  find  no  person 
with  whom  she  could  take  counsel,  the  whole  settle- 
ment heing  composed  of  a  gay  and  fashionable  peo- 
ple. The  tempter  pleaded  hard  with  her,  and  argued, 
that  if  she  did  now  seek  the  Lord,  and  would  go  to 
hear  these  people,  that  although  she  had  the  most 
tender  and  aftectionate  parents,  they  would  dis- 
own her,  and  turn  her  out-of-doors ;  that  she  would 
bring  a  reproach  upon  them,  and  he  forsaken  by  her 
companions.  But  however  desperate  her  case  might 
be  made  to  appear,  her  resolution  was  fixed,  and  she 
was  determined  to  abide  the  consequences. 

"The  deep  awakenings  of  the  daughter  made  a 
deep  impression  upon  her  mother's  mind.  The 
Doctor  at  length,  through  some  channel,  learning 
the  result  of  the  visit,  and  seeing  the  visible  change 
in  his  daughter's  appearance,  all  of  a  sudden  on  this 
occasion  was  at  once  roused  to  the  highest  pitch  of 
desperation.  The  threatened  storm  begins  now  to 
gather  round  this  new  subject  of  awakening  grace. 
He  calls  for  a  servant,  directs  him  to  prepare  a  horse 
and  chaise  to  take  his  daughter  to  her  aunt's,  (Mrs. 
Harrison,)  a  widow  then  living  in  Caroline  county, 
forty  miles  distant;    and  with  the  most  vehement 


IN     KENTUCKY.  375 

protestations,  that  unless  his  daughter  relinquished 
her  purpose,  never  to  see  his  face  again.  How  fee- 
ble are  the  efforts  of  man  without  grace !  When 
Heaven  designs  to  do  the  work,  what  is  a  human 
being's  puny  arm  to  resist,  or  to  be  raised  to  oppose 
it  ?  How  providential  was  this  singular  event :  her 
aunt,  unknown  to  the  Doctor,  had  gone  to  hear 
these  strange  people,  had  embraced  religion  and 
joined  society,  and  opened  her  house  for  preaching. 
He  could  not  have  sent  her  to  a  more  convenient 
and  suitable  place.  But  to  the  Doctor's  great  an- 
noyance, his  wife  became  more  and  more  sensibly 
affected ;  her  awakenings  were  deep,  and  she  desired 
to  go  and  hear  the  Methodists  for  herself.  In  this 
the  old  Doctor  opposed  her.  A  quarterly  meeting 
was  to  be  held  at  Richardson's  Chapel,  (called  the 
Barn,)  to  which  she  desired  to  go.  Although  on  all 
occasions  the  Doctor  perhaps  was  not  excelled  as  a 
husband  or  parent  for  tenderness  and  affection  for 
his  family — indeed,  he  carried  his  indulgence  to  an 
extreme — on  this  occasion  it  was  strange,  it  was 
really  astonishing,  to  see  how  his  feelings  were 
wrought  upon ;  they  were  aroused  beyond  control. 
He  most  positively  denied  his  wife  the  privilege  of 
going  to  this  meeting :  he  became  persuaded  in  his 
own  mind  that  these  people  had  set  those  persons 
thus  affected  crazy,  and  thus  concluded  that  his 
wife  and  daughter  were  really  deranged,  and  that 
without  a  proper  remedy  being  immediately  applied, 
the  consequences  would  become  very  serious."* 

*  Methodist  Magazine,  Vol.  X.,  pp.  2G0,  261,  2G3,  309,  310. 


376  METHODISM 

Opposed  to  Christianity,  he  availed  himself  of 
every  opportunity  to  arrest  the  tide  of  religious 
emotion,  that  had  swelled  the  hearts  of  his  wife 
and  daughter,  until  at  length  his  madness  culmi- 
nated in  the  application  of  the  blister,  to  which 
we  referred  in  our  sketch  of  Mrs.  Hinde.  We  are 
indebted  for  the  following  sketch  to  Bishop  Kava- 
naugh : 

"After  the  blister-plaster  was  put  on,  she  and  her 
daughter  went  on  to  the  meeting  again.  The  next 
day,  the  Doctor  asked  how  her  blister  was  coming 
on.  'Did  the  plaster  draw  well?'  She  said,  'I 
know  nothing  about  the  plaster.'  He  exclaimed, 
'What!  did  you  not  take  it  off  ? '  She  answered, 
'  No.*  Of  course  he  knew  that  it  was  in  a  bad  con- 
dition. He  stood  astounded,  until,  she  told  me,  he 
looked  as  if  he  were  petrified,  and  doubted  if  he  had 
the  use  of  himself.  She  said  she  arose  from  her 
seat  and  purposely  brushed  by  him,  when  he  stag- 
gered and  caught,  showing  the  want  of  self-control, 
from  the  intensity  of  his  feelings ;  for  though  he 
had  thus  treated  his  wife,  he  loved  her  with  a  warm 
devotion.  Reflecting  on  this  transaction,  conviction 
seized  on  his  mind,  and  troubled  him  for  his  sins. 
He  dressed  the  blister  as  best  he  could,  and  taking 
a  seat  by  his  wife,  he  said,  '  I  expect  if  you  were  to 
join  these  people  you  would  feel  better.'  With 
animation  she  exclaimed,  'Thank  you,  blister-plas- 
ter! thank  you,  blister-plaster!  '  believing  that  her 
blister  had  accomplished  that  much  for  her. 

"  She  and  her  daughter  now  went  to  Church  much 
elated.     They  thought  their  victory  so  grand,  they 


IN     KENTUCKY.  377 

invited  the  preacher  home  with  them.  This  was 
rather  too  fiist  for  the  Doctor ;  but,  as  a  matter  of 
civility,  he  politely  entertained  the  preacher,  and 
asked  him  to  have  prayers  at  night.  The  preacher 
prayed  with  such  mighty  power,  that  one  or  two  of 
the  girls  fell  prostrate  on  the  floor,  and  looked  as 
though  they  were  dead.  The  Doctor  quietly  crawled 
on  his  hands  and  knees  to  them,  and  felt  their  pulse, 
said  he  was  satisfied  that  they  could  not  die  with 
that  pulse,  and  so  crawled  back  to  his  chair  again. 

"The  meeting  went  on,  and  the  Doctor  w^ould 
make  it  convenient,  in  visiting  his  patients,  to  go 
by  the  meeting  and  hear  the  sermon — would  sit  at 
the  door  and  hear  as  much  of  the  class-meeting  as 
he  could.  He  was  very  serious,  and  soon  gave  him- 
self to  prayer,  and  was  converted  to  God.  His  par- 
ticular exercises  of  mind  at  the  time  of  his  conver- 
sion, I  do  not  remember  to  have  heard  detailed. 
This  I  regret.  In  detailing  the  circumstances  that 
brought  him  to  God,  and  the  knowledge  of  his  sal- 
vation, he  often  adverted  to  the  blister-plaster.  I 
once  heard  him  say,  I  think  it  was  in  a  love-feast, 
*  I  put  a  blister-plaster  on  my  wife  to  bring  her  to 
her  senses,  and  lo  and  behold,  it  brought  me  to  my 
senses!'  On  one  occasion,  going  to  love-feast,  his 
wife  remarked  to  him,  'Doctor,  if  you  should  have 
occasion  to  speak  this  morning,  you  need  not  say 
any  thing  about  the  blister-plaster,  for  everybody 
knows  that.'  I  suppose  he  thought  he  would  not, 
until  he  began  to  speak,  and  when  he  came  to  the 
part  that  brought  in  the  plaster,  he  paused  a  mo- 
ment, and  looking  over  to  his  wife,  said,  'Honey,  I 


378  METHODISM 

can't  get  along  without  that  blister-plaster.'      He 
then  gave  an  account  of  it,  and  passed  on. 

"  Few,  I  suppose,  ever  took  more  pleasure  in  the 
habit  of  prayer  than  did  Dr.  Hinde,  or  practiced 
devotions  more  frequently.  On  the  place  which  he 
cultivated  in  Kentucky  you  might  often  see  little 
houses  built  of  sticks  of  wood,  and  covered,  most 
usually,  with  bark,  with  a  door  for  entrance.  His 
grandchildren,  (myself  among  the  number,)  who 
were  accustomed  to  joyous  gambols  over  his  grounds, 
were  rather  perplexed  as  to  the  use  of  these  singular 
structures.  At  length  the  old  Doctor  was  overheard 
at  his  private  prayers  in  one  of  these  houses.  After 
that  w^e  all  called  them  'Grandpa's  prayer-houses.' 
He  aimed  to  conceal  his  person,  but  did  not  pray 
very  silently — he  could  often  be  heard  a  considerable 
distance.  On  one  occasion,  he  went  into  what  we 
termed  there  a  '  sink-hole,'  to  pray.  This  w^as  near 
the  road.  He  became  very  much  engaged,  strug- 
gling for  the  blessing  of  God  upon  him.  One  of 
his  neighbors,  by  the  name  of  Lion,  was  passing 
by,  and  hearing  the  voice  of  prayer,  but  not  seeing 
from  whence  it  came,  looked  about  to  see  if  he 
could  find  its  source.  It  seemed  to  him  to  be  in 
the  direction  of  the  sink-hole.  He  approached  it 
softly,  and  looking  down  into  it,  he  saw  the  Doctor 
on  his  knees,  who,  just  at  that  time,  received  his 
blessing,  and,  in  a  very  earnest  manner,  gave  glory 
to  God,  and  shouted  hosannas  to  his  name.  Lion 
passed  on,  awe-struck  with  the  scene  that  came 
under  his  notice,  having,  as  he  told  me  himself,  this 
train  of  reflections :   'Well,  there  was  a  man  who 


IN    KENTUCKY.  379 

could  not  be  a  hypocrite :  he  was  alone  and  con- 
cealed, engaged  in  private  prayer  with  God  for  a 
blessing  on  his  souL  He  wrestled  with  God,  and 
prevailed.  Without  a  consciousness  that  any  eye 
was  upon  him,  but  that  of  God,  he  was  happy 
under  his  blessing — a  proof  this,  that  Christianity  is 
founded  in  the  truth,  and  has  a  claim  on  every  man.' 
His  reflections  fastened  conviction  on  his  soul,  and 
he  never  rested  until  he  too  sought  the  God  of  all 
grace,  until  he  realized  peace  with  God  through  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"In  his  family  devotions,  the  Doctor  was  very 
fervid  and  full  of  feeling.  He  would  often  pause 
in  reading  a  chapter,  with  an  expression  of  admira- 
tion, a  word  of  exposition  or  application,  sometimes 
exclaiming,  'This  is  a  blessed  chapter.' 

"  In  his  later  days,  he  lived  with  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Mary  McKinney,  of  Newport,  Kentucky,  who 
had  a  little  son,  to  whom  he  was  greatly  attached. 
He  taught  him,  at  the  conclusion  of  prayer  in  the 
family,  to  say  'Amen.'  The  sound  of  the  little 
boy's  voice  on  that  word  would  thrill  him  with  pe- 
culiar pleasure.  On  rising  from  his  knees,  he  would 
cry  out,  'Where  is  he  ?'  would  run  to  him,  and  em- 
brace and  caress  him  very  fondly. 

"At  his  own  table,  he  would  require  his  grand- 
children to  come  around  the  table,  whether  they 
could  get  seats  or  not,  and  hold  their  hands  over  the 
table  until  he  would  ask  a  blessing,  when  every 
little  voice  would  say,  'Amen.'  This  afforded  him 
a  high  sense  of  pleasure. 

"  His  piety  was  not  morose— any  thing  but  a  sour 


380  METHODISM 

godliness.  It  was  a  religion  of  love,  joy,  and  peace. 
His  reverence  and  affection  for  ministers  of  the  gos- 
pel were  very  great.  On  tlieir  arrival  at  his  house, 
he  would  run  out  to  meet  them,  saying,  '•  Come  in, 
thou  blessed  of  the  Lord,  come  in  ! '  and  he  would 
embrace  them  in  his  arms.  He  esteemed  them  very 
highly  for  their  work's  sake. 

"As  might  well  be  supposed,  he  had  a  high  appre- 
ciation of  class-meetings.  "Where  he  was  well  ac- 
quainted, and  a  preacher  who  was  less  acquainted 
might  be  leading  the  class,  he  would  sometimes  get 
before  the  preacher,  and  when  he  would  come  to  a 
good  case,  he  would  say,  '  Here,  brother,  here  is  an 
humble  soul,  whom  God  blesses.'  Again  :  '  Here 
is  a  prayerful  soul,  and  zealous  for  the  Lord.'  But 
when  he  had  not  so  much  conhdence,  he  would 
merely  announce  his  name,  and  after  the  leader  had 
finished  talking  to  him,  he  would  stoop  down  and 
say  to  him,  '  You  must  pray  more.'  On  one  of  these 
occasions,  he  was  conducting  a  preacher  round  the 
class,  and  came  to  his  wife,  and  said,  in  an  animated 
tone  of  voice,  '  Here  is  my  wife,  my  sister,  and  my 
mother,'  alluding  to  the  fact  that  his  wife  had  been 
the  instrument  of  his  conversion,  and  was,  there- 
fore, his  mother.  The  preacher  paused,  reflected  a 
while,  and  then  proceeded. 

"A  prominent  trait  in  the  Doctor's  character  was 
a  carelessness  of  worldly  goods.  This  was  carried, 
perhaps,  farther  than  might  be  commended.  He 
had  very  little  appreciation  of  them.  I  do  not  know 
that  he  ever  called  upon  any  persons  for  money  they 
owed  him ;  and  if  any  one  paid  him  money,  it  was 


IN     KENTUCKY.  381 

likely  that  he  would  throw  it  into  the  lap  of  the 
first  female  member  he  passed  in  reaching  home, 
and  pass  on.  It  was  understood  that  he  gave  it  to 
them.  He  had  a  military  claim,  for  services  ren- 
dered in  the  British  Army,  for  four  thousand  acres 
of  land.  I  think  it  was  Patrick  Henry  who  asked 
him  why  he  did  not  locate  it.  He  offered  Mr.  Henry 
one-half  of  the  claim,  if  he  would  attend  to  that. 
It  was  accepted,  and  the  claim  was  located  on  a 
splendid  tract  of  land,  lying  between  Lexington  and 
Winchester,  in  Clarke  county,  about  twelve  miles 
from  the  former,  and  six  miles  from  the  latter  place. 
For  very  trifling  sums,  he  disposed  of  a  large  por- 
tion of  his  remaining  two  thousand  acres.  I  sup- 
pose that  a  good  deal  of  this  was  done  before  he 
removed  to  it ;  for  some  one  asked  him  why  he  sold 
such  valuable  land  for  so  small  an  amount,  and  he 
replied,  '  I  thought  it  was  in  the  moon,  and  never 
expected  to  see  it.' 

"After  giving  up  the  practice  of  medicine,  at  the 
solicitation  of  his  daughter,  (then  Mrs.  Mary  Taylor, 
but  already  alluded  to  as  Mrs.  Mary  McKinney, 
which  name  she  took  by  marrying  Col.  McKinney, 
of  l^ewport,)  the  old  Doctor  and  his  wife  lived  with 
her  until  each  one  of  them  died.  During  this  pe- 
riod, he  gave  himself  up  to  reading,  meditation, 
and  prayer,  and  appeared  utterly  dead  to  all  worldly 
cares  and  interests. 

"The  subject  of  religion  seemed  always  present 
to  his  mind.  In  illustration  of  this,  several  charac- 
teristic anecdotes  of  him  are  told. 

"  He  was  one  day  standing  on  the  bank  of  the 


382  METHODISM 

Ohio  River,  when  a  salt-boat  came  floating  by,  and 
a  man  on  the  boat  hailed  him,  and  asked,  '  How  is 
salt  selling  ? '  The  Doctor  replied,  '  I  know  nothing 
about  salt ;  I  know  that  grace  is  free.' 

^'At  another  time,  he  was  taking  a  morning  walk, 
and  met  Gen.  James  Taylor,  a  relative  by  marriage, 
who  said,  '  Good-morning,  Doctor ;  where  are  you 
going?'  'I  am  going  to  heaven;  where  are  you 
going.  General  ? '  The  General,  at  that  time,  had 
some  doubts  whether  his  road  led  to  the  same  coun- 
try, and  made  no  reply ;  but  it  is  hoped  he  found 
the  way  to  everlasting  life  before  he  left  the  world. 

"One  of  his  grandsons,  Wm.  "W.  Southgate,  was 
running  for  Congress,  and  the  race  was  a  close  one. 
Some  of  the  family  urged  the  old  Doctor  to  help 
out  his  relative  with  a  vote,  explaining  the  matter 
to  him  to  his  satisfaction,  and  he  promised  to  go 
and  vote.  So  he  started  off  to  the  court-house. 
His  memory  was  very  frail  at  this  time,  and  the 
court-house  was  the  place  at  which  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  worship.  He  walked  on  slowly,  humming 
a  tune,  and  got  quite  in  the  spirit  of  devotion  by 
the  time  he  reached  the  court-house.  He  walked 
in,  and  the  judges  of  the  election,  seeing  so  aged  a 
man  coming  to  the  polls,  cried  out,  'Clear  the  way, 
gentlemen,  and  let  Dr.  Hinde  vote.  Whom  do  you 
vote  for.  Doctor  ? '  The  election  had  gone  out  of 
his  mind  entirely.  He  looked  up  with  an  air  of 
surprise,  and  said,  '"Whom  do  I  vote  for?  "Why,  for 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  for  ever  ! '  The  judges  said, 
'  That  is  the  best  vote  cast  here  to-day,  but  we  do 
not  know  that  he  is  a  candidate  for  the  position  now 


IN    KENTUCKY.  383 

in  question.'  Meanwhile  one  of  liis  grandsons  said 
to  him,  'Grandpa,  you  have  not  come  to  meeting, 
but  to  the  election.'  *  0  yes,'  he  said,  '  I  understand 
it  now.'  He  then  voted  as  he  had  purposed.  He 
returned  home,  full  of  holy  thoughts  and  mellow 
feelings,  and,  it  is  said,  some  one  asked  him  where 
he  had  been.  He  said,  'I  have  been  to  meeting. 
We  had  a  glorious  time.' 

"  Particularly  in  relation  to  recent  events,  his 
memory  was  very  treacherous.  I  was  once  in  his 
presence,  in  the  second  year  of  my  itinerancy,  when 
he  looked  at  me  with  an  inquiring  look,  and  said, 
'Brother  Kavanaugh,  where  did  you  come  from? 
Did  you  come  from  Virginia  ? '  I  told  him,  *  JSTo  ;  I 
am  a  native  Kentuckian,  but  my  ancestors  were  all 
from  Virginia.  My  grandfather.  Dr.  Thomas  Hinde, 
was  an  early  immigrant  to  Kentucky,  and  settled  in 
Clarke  county.'  *  '  What,'  said  he,  '  Hannah's  son  ? ' 
'Yes,  sir.'  He  rose  from  his  chair,  and,  seizing  me 
round  the  neck,  exclaimed,  'Whom  the  Lord  calls, 
he  qualifies.  Be  faithful  to  your  calling.'  And  yet, 
in  this  same  interview,  he  told  me  when  he  was  ex- 
amined on  his  studies  as  a  student  of  medicine,  the 
questions  that  were  asked  him,  and  the  answers  he 
gave.  In  allusion  to  this  failure  of  memory  in  his 
advanced  age,  he  was  once  heard  to  say,  '  I  have 
forgotten  my  dear  friends  and  my  children ;  but, 
glory  to  God,  I  have  never  forgotten  my  Saviour.' 

"  Of  the  last  days  and  dying  exercises  of  my 
grandfather,   I    have    never  been    particularly   in- 

*  Dr.  Hinde  settled  in  Kentucky  in  1797. 


384  METHODISM 

formed.  The  only  item  that  I  now  distinctly  re- 
member being  referred  to  was  his  desire  that  his 
wife,  with  whom  he  had  spent  so  happy  a  life, 
should  die  with  him.  And  one  of  the  last  things 
he  did  was  to  feel  her  pulse,  when  he  said,  '  Honey, 
you  cannot  go.'  It  is  strange  to  myself  that  I  am 
not  better  informed  as  to  his  dying  exercises ;  but 
I  have  no  anxiety  as  to  the  death  of  a  man  who, 
while  living,  rejoiced  evermore,  prayed  without 
ceasing,  and  in  all  things  gave  thanks.  His  end 
must  be  peace.  He  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-two 
years,  and  passed  away  to  the  country  where  there 
is  no  more  death." 

In  the  accounts  we  have  given  of  the  extraordi- 
nary revivals  noted  in  this  chapter,  the  reader  has 
not  failed  to  observe  the  exercises,  such  as  jerks 
and  dances,  which  occasionally  occurred.  "We  are 
not  prepared  to  account  for  them.  Various  reasons 
have  been  assigned  for  those  strange  accompani- 
ments by  different  writers,  none  of  which  are  en- 
tirely satisfactory. 

The  influence  upon  the  morals  and  sentiments 
of  the  communities  in  which  these  revivals  occurred, 
and,  indeed,  the  change  they  produced  in  the  relig- 
ious faith  of  the  nation,  is  worthy  of  consideration. 
Infidelity  was  the  profession  of  the  times.  Men  in 
high  position  rejected  revelation,  and  denied  the 
truth  of  Christianity ;  but  before  these  demonstra- 
tions of  Divine  power,  infidelity  stood  trembling 
and  abashed,  and  then  retired  from  the  field.  From 
this  period,  but  few  persons  have  been  found  in 
Kentucky  Avho  even  professed  it,  and  scarcely  one 


IN    KENTUCKY.  385 

to  advocate  its  claim S' — while  the  man  who  holds  its 
sentiments  in  public  and  social  life  is  avoided  as  a 
monster. 

It  is  natural  that  we  should  look  for  a  large 
increase  in  the  membership  in  Kentucky  during 
this  year.  Emigration  from  Kentucky,  however, 
had  set  in  to  the  Korth-western  Territory  with  re- 
sistless tide,  and  whole  communities  were  now 
seeking  settlements  within  its  bounds.  Our  net 
increase,  however,  was  far  larger  than  in  any  pre- 
vious year.  In  the  white  membership  we  had  an 
increase  of  eight  hundred  and  ten,  and  in  the  colored 
sixty-eight.     Total,  eight  hundred  and  seventy-eight, 

VOL.  I. — 13 


386  METHODISM 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1801  TO  THE  CONFERENCE 
OF  1803. 

The  Western  Conference — The  early  centers  of  Methodism  in  Ken- 
tucky— Clarke's  Station  —  Ferguson's  Chapel  —  Level  Woods — 
Chaplin — Brick  Chapel — Ebenezer — Grassy  Lick — Muddy  Creek — 
Foxtown  —  Mount  Gerizim — Thomas's  Meeting-house  —  Sandusky 
Station — The  Conference  of  1801  held  at  Ebenezer — Bishop  As- 
bury  present — Nicholas  Snethen — Lewis  Garrett — Large  increase 
in  membership — The  Conference  of  1802  held  at  Strother's,  in 
Tennessee — Bishop  Asbury  present — Samuel  Douthet — William 
Crutchfield — Ralph  Lotspeich — James  Gwin — Jacob  Young — Jesse 
Walker  —  Red  River  Circuit  —  Barren  Circuit  —  Winn  Malone — 
Wayne  Circuit — Increase  of  membership. 

At  the  Conference  of  1801,  the  western  division 
of  the  work  bears,  for  the  first  time,  the  style  of  the 
"Western  Conference."  This  Conference  embraced 
two  districts — the  Kentucky,  and  the  Holston.  The 
Kentucky  District,  of  which  "William  McKendree 
Avas  the  Presiding  Elder,  included  Natchez,  in 
Mississippi ;  the  Scioto  and  Miami  Circuit,  in  the 
IvTorth-western  Territory ;  the  Cumberland  Circuit, 
in  Middle  Tennessee,  and  all  the  State  of  Kentucky. 
The  Holston  District  embraced  the  Green,  Holston, 
Russell,  and  ISTew  Eiver  Circuits — the  first  lying  in 
Tennessee,  and  the  three  latter  in  Virginia.  At 
this  period  Methodism,  notwithstanding  the  oppo- 
sition with  which  it  had  met,  began  to  assume  a 
more  commanding  position.     Under  the  labors  of 


IN     KENTUCKY.  387 

the  pious  men  who  had  devoted  their  energies  to 
the  advancement  of  the  Church,  it  had  spread  until 
societies  were  formed  in  ahiiost  every  community 
in  the  northern  and  central  portions  of  the  State. 

While  it  would  he  heyond  the  range  of  our 
present  work  to  mention  the  name  of  every  society 
that  had  been  formed  up  to  this  date,  it  is  proper 
to  allude  to  those  points  that,  at  this  early  period, 
constituted  the  great  centers  of  Methodism  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  from  which  it  was  promulgated  into  the 
re2:ions  around. 

The  society  at  Clarke's  Station,  in  Mercer  county, 
the  first  formed  in  the  District  of  Kentucky,  and 
afterward  known  for  many  years  as  Durham's 
Chapel,  was  one  of  the  most  prosperous  in  the  State. 
John  Durham,  the  first  class-leader  in  Kentucky, 
with  his  excellent  and  pious  wife,  held  his  member- 
ship here.  He  was  a  remarkable  man ;  and,  under 
his  guidance,  and  the  faithful  instruction  and  godly 
example  of  Francis  Clarke,  the  society  prospered ; 
and  from  it  a  holy  influence  was  sent  out  into  all 
the  surrounding  counties.  Through  many  years, 
camp-meetings  w^ere  regularly  held  at  this  point,  at 
which  hundreds  were  converted  and  saved.* 

We  have  already  referred  to  the  society  organ- 
ized in  l^elson  count}^,  at  Ferguson's  Chapel; 
also,  to  the  organization  in  1796,  by  John  Watson, 
known  as  the  Level-woods  society.      These  were 

^  This  society  continued  until  about  1858,  when,  after  the  revival 
of  that  year  in  Perryville,  under  the  labors  of  the  Revs.  J.  C.  C. 
Thompson,  L.  G.  Hicks,  and  others,  in  consequence  of  its  contiguity, 
it  was  merged  into  the  society  at  Perryville. 


388  METHODISM 

blessings  to  the  communities  in  wliich  they  were 
planted,  and  still  continue  as  great  religious  lights 
through  all  the  contiguous  counties. 

"  The  society,  the  descendants  and  successors  of 
whom  now  worship  at  Chaplintown,  is  one  of  the 
oldest  in  the  State.  In  fact,  it  is  said  that  the  first 
Methodist  sermon  ever  preached  in  ITelson  county, 
was  delivered  by  the  Kev.  Mr.  Ogden,  upon  the 
farm  of  Capt.  Jesse  Davis,  of  the  Revolutionary 
army,  which  farm  lay  some  half-mile  from  the 
present  site  of  the  village.  The  Captain  had  col- 
lected a  quantity  of  logs  for  the  raising  of  a  house, 
and  upon  these,  extemporized  into  seats,  the  '  fore- 
fathers of  the  hamlet '  sat,  listening  to  the  gospel 
as  proclaimed,  for  the  first  time,  with  that  zeal  and 
clearness  for  which  the  pioneers  of  Methodism  were 
so  distinguished.  How  long,  after  this  sermon, 
before  there  was  a  class  organized,  and  regular 
circuit-preaching  instituted,  cannot  now  be  ascer- 
tained; but  evidently  it  was  no  great  length  of  time. 
The  first  church  -  building  was  an  old-fashioned 
log  edifice,  and  was  erected  for  this  society  during 
the  year  1792.  Some  of  the  oldest  inhabitants  have 
a  recollection  of  attending  Divine  service  in  this 
building,  when  they  were  so  small  that,  becoming 
weary  of  the  exercises,  they  would  climb  from  the 
gallery  through  a  crack  in  the  wall,  and  then  de- 
scend to  the  ground  by  means  of  a  walnut-sapling 
that  grew  thereby.  In  this  building  preached  such 
men  as  Wilson  Lee,  Williamson  Portis,  (or  Daddy 
Portis,  as  he  was  called,)  and  men  of  that  day.  In 
1816,  a  brick  church  was  erected  at  the  same  place. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  389 

and  regular  circuit -preacliing  continued;  but  the 
prosperity  of  the  Church  did  not  continue.  It 
gradually  waned  until,  in  1822,  a  few  old  people, 
representing  eight  or  a  dozen  families,  constituted 
its  sole  membership.  Some  time  during  this  year, 
Jesse  Davis,  Jr.,  son  of  the  Captain  before  men- 
tioned, a  man  of  influence  and  position  in  society, 
came  to  his  death  by  tetanus,  resulting  from  the 
sticking  of  a  corn-stalk  in  his  foot.  Before  he  died, 
he  was  converted,  and  preached  Jesus  to  all  who 
came  to  his  bedside.  So  triumphant  and  glorious 
was  his  death,  that  it  made  a  most  w^ouderful  im- 
pression upon  the  community.  This,  taken  in 
connection  with  his  funeral -sermon  by  Jonathan 
Stamper,  and  a  protracted  meeting  conducted  by  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  Medley  and  Ferguson,  resulted  in  the 
awakening,  conversion,  and  accession  to  the  Church 
of  over  a  hundred  souls.  From  that  time,  the  Church 
has  remained  in  a  flourishing  condition,  a  light  and 
power  in  the  community.  In  1845,  the  house  prov- 
ing too  small,  the  present  commodious  and  ele- 
gant building  was  erected  in  the  village,  some  mile 
and  a  half  from  where  the  former  stood ;  and  now 
the  grass-grown  grave  and  the  marble  slab,  pro- 
claiming the  city  of  the  dead,  alone  mark  the  spot 
first  consecrated  to  God  by  the  erection  of  the  old 
log  meeting-house."* 

"  Between  the  years  1795  and  1800,  a  society  was 
formed  in  Shelby  county,  about  four  miles  north- 

*  Letter  to  the  author  from  the  Rev.  George  T.  Gould,  of  the  Ken- 
tucky Conference. 


390  METHODISM 

east  of  Shelbyville.  The  members  who  composed 
it,  when  first  organized,  Avere  George  Cardwell, 
Sarah  Cardwell,  Moore  Weaver,  Drusilla  Weaver, 
Edward  Talbott,  and  Elizabeth  Talbott.  This 
church  was  known  in  after  years  as  the  Brick 
Chapel.  This  chapel,  built  in  1804,  under  the  su- 
pervision of  Bishop  McKendree,  was  the  first  brick 
church -edifice  erected  in  Kentucky  under  the 
auspices  of  Methodism,  and  the  second  of  any  de- 
nomination in  the  State.  Previous  to  its  erection, 
the  preaching  was  in  private  houses,  until  a  school- 
house  was  obtained,  where  the  meetings  were  held. 

"In  1801,  during  a  quarterly  meeting  at  the  school- 
house,  there  was  a  most  extraordinary  revival.  A 
vast  number  of  persons,  arrested  by  Divine  power, 
fell  down  ;  a  great  many  would  start  to  run  away, 
and  fall  in  the  attempt,  some  one  hundred,  some 
two  hundred,  and  some  three  hundred  yards,  and 
others  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  stand.  The 
woods  were  literally  strewn  with  them,  and  the 
most  of  them  never  arose  until  the  good  Lord 
converted  their  souls.  Mr.  Reuben  Ross,  a  local 
preacher,  who  was  at  the  meeting,  gave  me  the  facts 
I  have  written."* 

Through  a  long  succession  of  years,  the  Brick 
Chapel  was  one  of  the  great  centers  of  Methodism 
in  the  portion  of  the  State  in  which  it  was  located. 
In  1810,  the  session  of  the  Western  Conference  con- 
vened there,  and  in  its  vicinity  camp-meetings  were 


*  Letter  from  J.  11.  Magruder,  Esq.,  of  Shelby  county,  Kentucky, 
dated  August  4,  18G7. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  391 

long  held,  which  resulted  in  blessings  to  thousands. 
For  many  years,  this  society 'was  associated  with 
Shelbyville,  both  forming  one  station;  but  for  sev- 
eral years  past,  preaching  has  been  discontinued 
there  altogether,  the  entire  class  having  removed 
their  membership  to  Shelbyville. 

Ebenezer,  situated  on  the  Todd's  road  from  Lex- 
ington to  Winchester,  twelve  miles  from  the  former, 
and  six  from  the  latter  place,  was  also  one  of  those 
centers  from  which  there  w^ent  out  a  great  religious 
influence. 

It  was  through  the  instrumentality  chiefly  of  a 
single  Christian  lady — Mrs.  Mary  Todd  Hinde — 
that  Methodism  was  planted  in  this  community. 

'^  The  first  Methodist  society  at  Ebenezer  was  or- 
ganized in  1797,  and  consisted  of  eight  persons,  as 
follows,  viz. :  Dr.  Thomas  Hinde,  Mary  Todd  Hinde, 
Martha  Hinde,  Williams  Kavanaugh,  Hannah  Kav- 
anaugh,  John  Martin,  Mr.  Summers,  and  Elizabeth 
Ilieronymus.*  In  the  year  1798,  the  first  church 
was  built  upon  the  lands  of  John  Martin  and  Dr. 
Thomas  Hinde,  of  logs;  and  in  the  year  1810,  it 
being  found  too  small  for  the  congregation  who 
attended,  it  was  enlarged.  Seven  camp-meetings 
were  held  in  the  neighborhood  between  1820  and 
1830,  and  were  largely  attended — this  being  a  great 
central  point  for  Methodism  in  those  days.  In  the 
year  1826,  the  old  log  church  gave  way  to  a  neat 
brick  church,  which,  in  1843,  was  replaced  with  a 


*  Mrs.  Ilieronymus  was  the  grandmother  of  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Tcvis, 
of  Shelbyville,  Kentucky. 


392  METHODISM 

still  larger  and  more  finished  building,  which  was 
burned  in  1853 ;  since  which  time  the  society  there 
has  been  connected  with  the  Church  at  Winchester. 
Ebenezer  has  sent  forth  from  its  society  thirteen 
preachers,  among  whom  are  Jonathan  Stamper, 
H.  H.  Kavanaugh,  B.  T.  Kavanaugh,  W.  B.  Kava- 
naugh,  and  William  Askins.*  All  the  first  preach- 
ers of  the  Connection  have,  at  some  time  or  other, 
preached  at  this  point.  Bishops  George,  Bascom, 
McKendree,  and  Kavanaugh,  have  all  held  forth  the 
word  of  life  to  the  people  there.  Mafiitt,  in  1841,  held 
a  protracted  meeting  there,  and  received  many  in  the 
Church.  The  present  membership  in  the  neighbor- 
hood numbers  twenty  persons,  all  connected  with 
the  society  at  Winchester.  An  efibrt  is  now  being 
made  to  rebuild  Ebenezer,  on  the  pike  leading  from 
Lexington  to  Winchester,  about  two  miles  from  its 
former  location.  The  enterprise  will  probably  be  a 
success,  as  about  two-thirds  of  the  money  has  al- 
ready been  subscribed.  We  expect  to  be  in  the 
new  house  by  August,  1868."  f 

No  one  of  the  early  societies  in  Kentucky  was 
instrumental  in  accomplishing  so  much  good  for  the 
Church  as  that  at  Ebenezer.  Not  to  refer  to  the 
host  of  valuable  members  of  the  Church  who  em- 
braced religion  here,  and  have  blessed  the  world  by 

*In  addition  to  these  names,  a  letter  from  the  Eev.  B.  T.  Kava- 
naugh, of  Houston,  Texas,  gives  us  the  following,  as  persons  who 
started  out  from  tlie  Ebenezer  society :  Loroy  11.  Kavanaugh,  Henry 
McDaniel,  Stephen  and  Oljadiah  Harber,  twin  brotlicrs. 

f  Letter  to  the  author  from  the  Rov.  W.  T.  Poynter,  of  Winchester, 
Kentucky. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  393 

their  holy  lives,  the  simple  mention  of  the  names  of 
the  ministers  sent  forth  from  her  altars  in  the  days 
of  her  prosperity,  to  proclaim  a  Redeemer's  love, 
identifies  this  Church  with  the  history  of  Method- 
ism in  Kentucky  during  all  the  years  that  have 
passed  since  its  organization. 

"  The  measure  of  religious  influence  exerted  by 
the  society  at  Ebenezer  is  not  to  be  confined  to  the 
number  of  her  members,  or  the  ministers  she  has 
sent  out ;  but  it  is  entitled  to  the  credit  of  having 
given  rise  to  other  societies,  and  in  greatly  aiding 
such  as  had  a  previous  existence.  The  Church  at 
Winchester,  for  example,  was  wholly  constituted  by 
members  from  Ebenezer.  The  Church  at  Lexing- 
ton received  great  aid  from  the  camp-meetings  held 
at  or  near  Ebenezer.  In  1819,  the  Church  at  Lex- 
ington was  very  small,  and  worshiped  in  a  little  ill- 
shaped  house,  far  out  in  the  east  end  of  the  town, 
which  was  afterward  sold  for  a  cabinet-shop.  In 
the  fall  of  1819  and  1820,  the  revival  influence  was 
carried  from  the  cam.p-meetings  at  Ebenezer  into 
Lexington,  by  those  who  had  attended  it ;  and  the 
society  there  thus  received  its  first  religious  im- 
pulses toward  a  large  and  healthy  growth.  Previous 
to  that  time,  there  w^as  not  a  young  person  in  the 
society — none  w^hen  I  joined  there.  Old  Father 
Chipley,  Chatton,  Bryan,  Gibbon,  and  a  few  others, 
were  the  fathers  of  the  Church.  In  1820  and  1821, 
the  revival  continued,  and  a  great  many  young 
people  were  brought  into  the  Church."* 

*  Letter  to  the  autlior  from  Rev.  B.  T.  Kavanangh,  of  Houston,  Texas. 


394  METHODISM 

The  light  of  a  Church  that  has  accomplished  so 
much  for  the  cause  of  Christianity,  should  never  be 
extinguished,  nor  its  luster  grow  dim.  "We  rejoice 
that  steps  are  being  taken  for  its  resuscitation,  and 
Ave  hope  that  a  brighter  star — a  star  that  never  more 
shall  set — may  rise  above  it,  and  shedding  its  mellow 
light,  may  witness  its  greater  prosperity  and  glory, 
until  the  end  of  time. 

Grassy  Lick,  in  Montgomery  county,  was  also  a 
prominent  preaching-place  before  the  commence- 
ment of  the  present  century.  It  was  a  camp-ground 
on  a  creek  bearing  that  name,  about  seven  miles  west 
of  Mount  Sterling.  "It  was  a  preaching-place  in  the 
Ilinkstone  Circuit,  when  that  circuit  was  first  formed, 
in  1793.  Richard  Bird  was  the  first  preacher  who  was 
appointed  to  it.  I  suppose  Methodism  was  planted 
at  Grassy  Lick  as  early  as  that  date,  if  not  earlier. 
Among  the  first  members  at  Grassy  Lick,  were  the 
Wrens,  Riggses,  Sewells,  Tauls,  and  Farrows.  Their 
house  of  worship  was  a  hewed-log  building,  stand- 
ing on  a  beautiful  hill  or  ridge ;  and  near  it  was  a 
camp-ground.  But  they  now  have  an  elegant  frame 
church  in  the  valley,  or  foot  of  the  hill.  It  is  con- 
nected with  the  Mount  Sterling  charge,  and  they  have 
regular  preaching  the  first  Sabbath  in  each  month."  * 

The  Rev.  D.  B.  Cooper,  the  pastor  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  South,  in  Mount  Sterling, 
says,  in  a  letter  we  received  from  him,  dated  Mount 
Sterling,  April  2,  18G8  : 

*  Letter  to  the  author  from  tlic  Piev.  W.  B.  Landrum,  of  tho 
Kentucky  Conference. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  395 

"  Grassy  Lick  was  a  prcacliing-place  as  far  back 
as  1793.  James  Wren  gave  the  ground,  and  a 
hewed-log  house,  twenty-four  by  thirty-four,  was 
built  about  1800.  The  church-building  at  present 
is  part  frame  and  part  log,  so  arranged  as  to  have 
the  appearance  of  a  frame  church.  The  logs  are  the 
same  that  were  in  the  oris-inal  house.  The  mem- 
bership  at  Grassy  Lick  in  early  times  numbered 
about  one  hundred,  but  it  gradually  declined  until 
a  few  years  back,  when  it  numbered  about  twelve. 
God  revived  his  work  there  some  years  ago,  and 
now  there  is  a  growing,  flourishing  membership. 

"Susan  Taul,  familiarl}^  called  Mother  Taul,  is 
the  oldest  member  of  the  Church  there.  She  joined 
there  in  180T.  She  is  a  relic  of  old  Methodism;  and 
perhaps  she  has  done  as  much  or  more  than  any  one 
person  in  these  parts,  to  sustain  and  hold  up  the 
Church  of  God. 

"  She  told  me  some  time  ago,  that  she  used  to  at- 
tend as  many  as  seven  camp-meetings  in  one  year. 
Said  I,  'Mother  Taul,  how  could  you  do  that?' 
'  Why,  when  one  was  over,  I  would  come  by  home, 
kill  a  mutton  or  two,  cook  Rve  or  six  hams,  and 
bake  fifteen  or  twenty  loaves  of  light -bread,  put 
them  on  the  cart,  and  drive  to  the  next  one,'  was 
her  reply.  I  am  told  that  she  used  to  send  provis- 
ions to  the  preachers  by  the  cart-load.  She  was 
born  of  Baptist  parents,  in  Brunswick  county,  Vir- 
ginia, March  1,  1787,  came  to  Kentucky  when  a 
small  child,  and  Burke  was  the  first  Methodist 
preacher  she  ever  heard  preach." 

Among  the   later   "members  of  the  Church  at 


396  METHODISM 

Grassy  Lick,  was  Henry  Fisk,  two  of  whose  sons 
were  there  converted,  and  became  valuable  members 
of  the  Kentucky  Conference.  John  Fisk  was  con- 
verted in  1820,  and  joined  the  Conference  in  1826. 
He  was  highly  gifted  as  a  preacher,  and  w^on  for 
himself  a  fine  reputation  in  the  Conference  for  the 
short  period  in  which  he  lived.  From  Grassy  Lick 
there  Avent  out  a  salutary  Methodist  influence,  which 
reached  Mount  Sterling,  the  Orear  settlement,  and 
other  parts  of  the  county.  For  a  long  time  old 
Father  Spratt  was  almost  the  only  member  of  our 
Church  in  Mount  Sterling,  when  the  revival  power 
reached  that  place  first  in  1825,  and  some  of 
the  principal  families  were  converted,  among  them 
Dr.  E.  Jones.  The  Church  grew  rapidly  until  1827, 
when  Milton  Jamison  was  stationed  there,  when  it 
reached  its  full  maturity  of  strength  and  power."  * 

"We  may  also  mention  two  points  in  Madison 
county,  in  which  Methodism  was  early  planted, 
and  from  w^hich  a  saving  influence  went  out.  One 
was  on  Muddy  Creek,  in  the  north-western  part  of 
the  county,  and  the  other  was  near  Foxtown,  six 
miles  from  Richmond,  in  a  westerly  direction.  The 
following  letter  w^e  received  from  the  Eev.  E.  L. 
Southgate,  dated  Richmond,  Kentucky,  February 
11,  1868,  will  give  us  an  account  of  their  present 
condition  : 

"  The  first  point  you  mention,  on  Muddy  Creek, 
has  for  many  years  been  known  as  Concord.  The 
society  was  formed  there  some  time  in  the  first  dc- 


■*  Letter  from  tlio  Rev.  B.  T.  Kavanaugh. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  397 

cade  of  this  century,  iind  for  a  long  time  was  cele- 
brated as  a  camp-ground.  The  ground  still,  I  am 
told,  belongs  to  the  Church,  but  is  not  used.  I  be- 
lieve the  old  building  is  still  standing,  but  not  used. 
There  is  no  society  immediately  at  this  point ;  but 
there  is  one  near  by  at  a  place  called  Pace's  Chapel, 
where  there  is  a  respectable  society,  now  included 
in  Madison  Circuit.  Texas  is  not  very  far  from  it, 
and,  I  am  told,  is  the  strongest  Methodist  com- 
munity in  the  county.  They  have  two  verj^  nice 
churches — Northern  and  Southern — with  about  fifty 
members  in  each  society. 

"The  second  place,  near  Foxtown,  is  now  called 
Providence.  I  went  to  see  old  Brother  Harber, 
the  oldest  member  of  the  Church ;  but  his  memory 
had  failed  a  good  deal,  and  he  could  tell  me  very 
little.  He  produced  a  Church-book,  however,  that 
was  first  used  about  1811.  The  Minutes  of  the  first 
Quarterly  Conference  recorded,  fix  the  bounds  of 
Madison  Circuit,  and,  I  believe,  give  it  the  name. 

"Providence  was  formerly  called  Proctor's  Chapel. 
It  now  has  a  large  church-edifice.  I  should  judge 
it  to  be  about  sixty  by  forty  feet,  and  a  society  of 
about  forty  members.  The  Church  is  not  very 
strong,  but  has  an  excellent  membership — in  need, 
like  many  others,  of  a  revival  of  religion.  This 
appointment  is  connected  with  Richmond,  in  my 
charge." 

Methodism  was  also  established  at  an  early  day  in 
Harrison  county,  at  Mount  Gerizim.  The  Rev.  Geo. 
S.  Savage,  of  the  Kentucky  Conference,  furnishes  us 
with  the  following  information  in  reference  to  it : 


398  METHODISM 

"Mount  Gcrizim,  or  Broaclwell,  in  Harrison 
county,  is  a  historic  Church.  It  was  built  about 
the  beginning  of  the  present  century.  The  ground 
where  it  stands  was  given  jointly  by  Richard  Tim- 
berlake  and  Samuel  Broadwell,  the  former  a  Pres- 
byterian, the  latter  a  Methodist.  The  first  house 
was  built  of  blue-ash  logs,  so  nicely  and  smoothly 
hewed  that  not  a  trace  of  the  scoring  could  be  seen. 
The  logs  were  furnished  by  the  neighbors ;  and 
when  they  were  all  collected  on  the  ground,  one  of 
the  neighbors,  because  his  set  of  logs  was  not  as 
nice  as  some  others,  hauled  them  away,  and  got  out 
an  entire  new  set,  determining  to  excel  all  the  rest. 
This  house  was  burnt  about  1825 — accidental — when 
the  brick  house  now  standing  was  erected.  Two 
Conferences  were  held  here.  This  Church,  which 
was  the  great  center  of  Methodism  for  all  of  now 
interior  Kentucky,  was,  at  this  early  period,  in  the 
old  Hinkstone  Circuit,  which  circuit  was  traveled 
by  William  Burke,  Dr.  Cloud,  Littleton  Fowler, 
Samuel  Parker,  Learner  Blackman,  James  Ward, 
William  Patterson,  George  Askins,  H.  B.  Bascom, 
William  Holman,  Jonathan  Stamper,  etc. 

"  More  than  a  dozen  camp-meetings  were  held 
here.  The  numbers  attending  were  immense.  At 
one  of  these  camp-meetings,  Bascom  and  Stribling 
preached  on  different  days  from  the  same  text — 
being  accidental ;  hence  quite  a  discussion  among 
the  people  which  preached  the  greater  sermon. 

"This  Church  stood  for  many  years  as  a  great 
beacon-light,  long  before  there  was  any  Church  at 
Cynthiana,  Millcrsburg,  or  Paris.     Mount  Gerizim, 


IN    KENTUCKY.  399 

or  Broadwell,  is  hallowed  on  account  of  the  great 
revivals  of  religion.  Thousands  of  souls  have  been 
converted  to  God  on  its  consecrated  ground.  It  is 
about  three  miles  from  Cynthiana,  on  the  turnpike 
leading  from  that  place  to  Kuddell's  Mills." 

Thomas's  Meeting-house,  in  Washington  (now 
Marion)  county,  and  Sandusky  Station,  (now  Pleas- 
ant Run,)  in  Marion  county,  seven  miles  south-east 
of  Springfield,  deserve  to  be  mentioned  in  this  con- 
nection— the  former  for  the  piety  and  zeal  of  its  early 
membership,  as  well  as  for  the  beneficial  results  that, 
in  early  times,  extended  from  it,  as  a  great  religious 
center,  in  every  direction.  Among  the  first  members 
of  that  society  were  Owen  Thomas  and  his  excellent 
wife.  One  of  the  first  preaching-points  established 
in  Kentucky,  it  was  visited  by  all  the  pioneer  preach- 
ers; while  the  house  of  Mr.  Thomas,  amid  their 
toils,  and  sufferings,  and  labors,  afforded  them  al- 
ways a  place  of  welcome  and  rest.  The  old  house 
still  stands,  though  in  a  state  of  dilapidation.  It  is 
fast  crumbling  to  decay,  and  the  men  who  first 
sounded  the  tidings  of  mercy  within  its  walls  have 
ceased  from  their  labors. 

Sandusky  Station  has  been  the  scene  of  many 
blessed  revivals  of  religion.  In  a  former  chapter 
we  referred  to  the  first  revival  at  that  place  in  1800. 
Kow  known  as  the  Pleasant  Run  Church,  it  has  sent 
into  the  ministry  several  useful  and  pious  ministers,* 
and  at  present  contains  a  large  membership,  and  is 

*  Jolm  Sandusky,  Elijah  M.  Bosley,  Jonathan  Thomas,  and  Thomas 
G.  Bosley,  all  went  out  from  this  society. 


400  METHODISM 

ill  a  prosperous  condition.  Col.  John  Hardin  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  this  Church. 

At  this  period  there  were  many  other  points  of 
interest  where  Methodism  had  been  firmly  planted, 
but  those  to  which  we  have  referred  were  the  prin- 
cipal centers.  As  yet  but  few  societies  had  been 
established  in  the  towns — they  w^ere  the  last  to 
foster  the  spirit  of  Methodism,  until  the  country 
had  led  the  way. 

The  Conference  of  1801  was  held  at  Ebenezer, 
commencing  October  1st.  Bishop  Asbury  was  pres- 
ent, and  presided  over  the  body.    The  Bishop  says : 

"Our  brethren  in  Kentucky  did  not  attend:  they 
pleaded  the  greatness  of  the  work  of  God.  Twelve 
of  us  sat  in  conference  three  days ;  and  we  had  not 
an  unpleasant  countenance,  nor  did  we  hear  an 
angry  word.  And  why  should  it  not  always  be 
thus  ?  Are  we  not  the  ministers  of  the  meek  and 
lowly,  the  humble  and  holy  Jesus  ? 

"iN".  Snethen  gave  us  two  sermons.  We  ordained 
on  Friday,  Saturday,  and  Sabbath-day,  and  upon  each 
day  I  improved  a  little  on  the  duties  of  ministers. 
On  the  Lord's-day  we  assembled  in  the  woods,  and 
made  a  large  congregation.  My  subject  was  Isaiah 
Ixii.  1.  On  Friday  and  Saturday  evenings,  and  on 
Sabbath  morning,  there  was  the  noise  of  praise  and 
shouting  in  the  meeting-house.  It  is  thought  there 
are  twenty-five  souls  who  have  found  the  Lord: 
they  are  chiefly  the  children  of  Methodists — the 
children  of  faith  and  of  many  prayers."* 


*  Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III.,  pp.  3G,  37. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  401 

111  the  list  of  Appointments  for  Kentucky  this 
year,  are  the  names  of  Henry  Smith,  Benjamin 
Lakin,  "William  Burke,  John  Sale,  and  Lewis  Gar- 
rett. Of  the  first  four,  previous  mention  has  been 
made. 

Although  Lewis  Garrett  was  brought  up  chiefly 
in  Kentucky,  and  had  entered  the  ministry  in  179J:, 
his  labors  up  to  this  period  had  been  bestowed  upon 
other  sections  of  the  work.  We  are  indebted 
for  the  following  sketch  to  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Mc- 
Ferrin,  D.D.  : 

"Lewis  Garrett  was  one  of  the  early  preachers 
who  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  planting  Methodism, 
and  establishing  the  cause  of  Christianity,  in  the 
West.  His  labors  were  not  confined  to  this  new 
and  inviting  field  of  toil,  though  some  of  the  best 
days  of  his  early  life  and  ministry  were  spent  in 
Kentucky. 

"Mr.  Garrett  Avas  a  native  of  Pennsylvania;  born 
April  24,  1772 ;  but  while  he  was  yet  a  child,  his 
parents  removed  to  Virginia.  There  they  continued 
only  a  few  years  before  the}'  set  out  for  the  fertile 
valley  of  the  '  far  West.'  On  the  way,  the  father, 
Lewis  Garrett,  died,  leaving  a  widow  and  eight 
children  in  the  wilderness.  They,  however,  pressed 
forward  with  sad  hearts;  and,  accompanied  by 
other  immigrant  families,  reached  Scott's  Station, 
between  Dix  and  the  Kentucky  Rivers,  where 
they  halted  and  erected  temporary  cabins.  This 
was  in  the  autumn  of  1779.  Here  the  family  en- 
countered sore  difficulties.  The  winter  was  ex- 
tremely cold,  provisions  were  very  scarce,  and  the 


402  METHODISM 

Indians  hostile.  Two  of  his  brothers  were  captured 
by  the  savages,  one  of  whom  was  a  prisoner  for 
eighteen  months,  and  the  other  was  never  heard 
from. 

"The  family  of  Mr.  Garrett  became  identified 
with  the  Methodists  in  1786 ;  but  in  1790,  a  great 
revival  prevailed  in  the  settlements,  under  the  min- 
istry of  Benjamin  Ogden,  James  Haw,  and  Barna- 
bas McHenry.  It  w^as  in  this  revival  that  young 
Garrett  w^as  awakened  and  converted.  In  1794,  he 
entered  the  traveling  connection.  The  Conference 
for  the  "West  w^as  held  that  year  at  Lewis's,  near  the 
Kentucky  Eiver.  Moses  Speer  and  Williams  Kava- 
naugh  were  admitted  at  the  same  Conference. 

"For  twelve  consecutive  years  Mr.  Garrett  trav- 
eled and  preached  in  Virginia,  ITorth  Carolina, 
Tennessee,  and  Kentucky.  In  1802,  he  was  on  the 
Lexington  Circuit;  1803,  Danville;  1804,  Presiding 
Elder  on  the  Cumberland  District. 

"  His  health  having  failed,  he  located  for  a  season, 
and  settled  in  Tennessee.  He  afterward  returned 
to  the  itinerant  work,  and  spent  many  days  in  the 
ministry,  preaching  on  circuits,  in  towns,  and  on 
large  districts.  He  was  for  man}^  years  a  leading 
member  of  the  Tennessee  Conference,  and  filled 
many  important  appointments. 

"  He  finally,  in  connection  with  the  Rev.  John  N. 
Maffitt,  commenced  in  l!Tashville  the  publication  of 
the  *  Western  Methodist,'  a  popular  weekly  sheet, 
advocating  the  claims  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  He  also  established  a  book-store,  where 
he  for  years  did  an  extensive  business. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  403 

"He  became  somewhat  involved  iu  difficulties 
and  serious  strife  with  some  of  his  brethren,  which 
resulted  in  a  severance  from  the  Church  for  a  few 
years.  He,  how^ever,  came  back  to  the  bosom  of 
his  mother,  became  a  member  of  the  Mississippi 
Conference,  where  he  labored  and  preached  with 
great  success,  till  '  the  wheels  of  nature  stood  still,' 
and  he  'ceased  at  once  to  work  and  live.' 

"He  died  at  the  home  of  his  son,  M.  Garrett, 
Esq.,  near  Yernon,  Mississippi,  April  28,  1857,  in 
the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age. 

"  Mr.  Garrett  was  in  person  rather  under  size ; 
slender,  but  well  formed.  His  face  was  finely  chis- 
eled, and  his  features  were  indicative  of  strength 
and  sprightliness  of  intellect.  His  eye  was  a  dark 
brown,  and  very  piercing.  His  voice  was  full  and 
mellow ;  his  accent  and  articulation  superior ;  his 
manner  very  deliberate,  and  his  sermons  at  times 
overpow^ering.  Indeed,  he  was  an  extraordinary 
man,  and  accomplished  much  for  the  Church.  He 
died  in  peace — yea,  in  triumph — and  now  rests  from 
his  labors,  while  his  works  do  follow  him." 

During  this  year,  Methodism  took  a  firmer  hold  on 
the  confidence  and  affections  of  the  people  than  it 
had  previously  occupied.  The  controversies  on  the 
subjects  and  mode  of  baptism,  as  well  as  those  on 
unconditional  election  and  reprobation — the  former 
with  the  Baptist,  and  the  latter  with  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church — had  refuted  the  fallacious  pretensions 
of  the  one  and  the  heterodox  views  of  the  other, 
and  emblazoned  upon  the  pennon  of  Methodism, 
"For  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only 


404  METHODISM 

begotten  Son  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should 
not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life."  Besides,  the 
great  revival  was  sweeping  like  a  hurricane  through- 
out the  State ;  and  while  the  ministers  of  other  de- 
nominations, w^ith  but  few  exceptions,  either  de- 
nounced it,  or  refused  to  enter  into  its  spirit,  the 
Methodist  ministry,  taking  the  lead  everywhere, 
rising  with  the  excitement  of  each  occasion,  stood 
at  the  helm  guarding  the  noble  ship,  on  the  one 
hand  against  a  reckless  fanaticism,  and  on  the 
other  against  an  Antinomian  indifference  and  apa- 
thy.    Success  crowned  their  efforts. 

"We  have  already  seen,  from  the  Journal  of  Bishop 
Asbury,  that  "the  greatness  of  the  work  of  God" 
in  the  State  was  such  that  the  preachers  in  Ken- 
tucky could  not  be  present  at  the  Conference, 
which  was  held  this  year  in  Tennessee.  The  in- 
crease in  the  membership  w^as  one  thousand  and  one. 

The  "Western  Conference  for  1802  was  held  at 
Strother's,  in  Sumner  county,  Tennessee,  com- 
mencing October  2.  Bishop  Asbury  was  present. 
He  says  : 

'''Saturday^  October  2.  "We  rode  forward  to  Station 
Camp,  and  found  the  Conference  seated.  By  this 
time,  my  stomach  and  speech  were  pretty  well  gone. 
I  applied  to  Mr.  William  Hodge  and  to  Mr.  William 
McGee,  Presbyterian  ministers,  to  supply  my  lack 
of  public  service,  Avhich  they  did  with  great  fer- 
vency and  fidelity  :  with  great  pleasure  and  in  great 
pain  I  heard  them  both.  I  was  able  to  ordain  by 
employing  Brother  McKendrec  to  exaruine  those 
wlio  were  presented,  and  to  station  the  preachers — 


IN     KENTUCKY.  405 

I  hope  for  tlie  gloiy  of  God,  the  benefit  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  the  advantage  of  the  preachers.  The  Con- 
ference adjourned  on  Tuesday.''  * 

At  this  Conference,  tlie  names  of  Samuel  Douthet, 
William  Crutchfield,  Ralph  Lotspeich,  James  Gwiu, 
Jacob  Young,  and  Jesse  Walker,  are  in  the  list  of 
Appointments  in  Kentucky. 

Samuel  Douthet  only  labored  one  year  in  Ken- 
tucky. He  entered  the  itinerant  field  in  1797,  and 
was  appointed  to  the  Saluda  Circuit,  and  the  next 
year  to  the  Little  Pedee  and  Anson  Circuit,  both  in 
the  South  Carolina  Conference.  In  1799,  his  field  of 
labor  was  the  Washington  Circuit,  in  Georgia.  He 
was  then  returned,  at  the  ensuing  Conference,  held 
in  the  following  spring,  to  the  Little  Pedee.  In  the 
fall  of  1800,  he  was  placed  on  the  Green  Circuit ;  in 
1801,  on  the  Holston.  In  1802,  he  has  charge  of 
the  Lexington  Circuit,  in  Kentucky,  and  the  next 
year  he  is  sent  to  the  ISTollachuckie.  "He  was  a 
hortatory  and  pathetic  preacher." 

William  Crutchfield,  a  young  man,  "  amiable,  el- 
oquent, and  gifted,  joined  the  Western  Conference 
this  year,  and  was  appointed  to  the  Danville  Cir- 
cuit; in  1803,  to  the  Wayne;  the  following  year,  to 
the  ITashville,  where  his  health  failed,  and  at  the 
next  Conference,  he  located.  He  "finished  his 
course  with  joy." 

Kalph  Lotspeich  was  admitted  on  trial  at  the  Con- 
ference of  this  year,  and  appointed  to  the  Salt  River 
and  Shelby  Circuit ;  in  1803,  to  the  Red  River  ;   in 

^Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III.,  pp.  87,  88. 


406  METHODISM 

1804,  to  the  Barren ;  in  1805,  to  the  French  Broad ; 
in  1806,  to  the  Holston.  The  remaining  six  years 
of  his  life,  he  labored  in  Ohio,  on  the  HockhockiDg, 
Fairfield,  Deer  Creek,  and  Scioto  Circuits. 

Ealph  Lotspeich  was  of  German  descent,  but  was 
born  in  Culpepper  county,  Virginia.  He  removed 
with  his  father  to  Tennessee,  in  which  State  he  en- 
tered the  ministry.  His  intellectual  endowments 
were  by  no  means  of  a  high  order;  but  by  close 
application  and  ardent  devotion  to  his  profession, 
he  not  only  became  a  useful,  but  a  sound  gospel- 
preacher.  In  the  several  charges  he  filled,  he  was 
instrumental  in  the  accomplishment  of  much  good. 
The  theme  on  which  he  chiefly  dwelt  in  the  pulpit, 
was  experimental  and  practical  Christianity;  and 
he  enforced  the  same  by  urgent  appeals,  accompanied 
with  tears ;  which  were  made  the  more  efi:ectual  by 
his  godly  deportment. 

The  Scioto  Circuit,  on  which  he  labored  two 
years,  was  the  last  on  which  he  traveled.  For  seve- 
ral months  previous  to  his  death,  his  health  steadily 
declined ;  but,  anxious  to  devote  his  life  to  the  great 
work  to  which  he  was  pledged,  he  continued  to 
travel  and  preach  until  a  few  weeks  before  his 
death.  A  few  days  before  his  decease  his  suflterings 
were  great,  but  he  endured  them  without  a  murmur. 
Contemplating  the  reward  that  awaited  him,  he  fre- 
quently, during  the  last  few  days  of  his  life,  would 
sing: 

Great  spoils  I  shall  win  from  death,  hell,  and  sin  ; 
'Midst  outward  afflictions  shall  feel  Christ  within. 

He  called  upon  a  friend  to  adjust  his  temporal 


IN     KENTUCKY.  407 

business,  and,  upon  learning  how  much  money  he 
would  leave,  said :  "  That  will  keep  my  wife  and 
children  one  year,  and  the  Lord  will  provide." 

He  was  asked,  on  the  day  on  which  he  died,  how 
he  was :  to  which  he  replied :  "  I  can  only  say  I  am 
sure  of  heaven ;  not  a  doubt  or  cloud  has  appeared 
since  my  sickness  began."  His  last  words  were: 
"  Tell  my  old  friends  all  is  well,  all  is  well."  * 

The  name  of  James  Gwinf  first  appears  in  the 
General  Minutes  of  this  year,  when  he  was  admitted 
on  trial,  and  appointed  to  the  Barren  Circuit,  not 
then  formed.  He  remained  in  the  itinerant  field 
but  a  short  time,  when  the  duties  of  home  called  him 
away.  In  1808,  we  will  meet  him  again  in  the  itin- 
erant ranks,  laboring  with  energy  and  success. 

Another  name  that  stood  with  marked  promi- 
nence before  the  Church  for  nearly  sixty  years,  as  a 
useful  minister  of  the  gospel,  is  that  of  Jacob 
Young. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  Kentucky,  he  removed 
to  the  State,  soon  after  the  treaty  of  peace  with  the 
Indians,  and  settled  not  far  from  where  the  village 
of  ;N"ewcastle  now  stands.  Engaging  in  the  many 
sports  so  common  to  life  on  the  frontier,  he  gave 
but  little  attention  to  the  subject  of  religion, 
although  deeply  impressed  from  time  to  time. 
Brought  up  under  an  influence  calculated  to  repress 
religious  conviction,  he  was  finally  aroused  from  his 
apathy  by  the  stirring  appeals  that  were  made  by 

*  General  Minutes  M.  E.  Church,  VoL  I.,  p.  238. 
f  He  was  the  father  of  the  Hon.  W.  M.  Gwin,  late  United  States 
Senator  from  California. 


408  METHODISM 

the  Methodist  preachers  who  came  into  the  neigh- 
borhood in  which  his  father  resided.  At  a  meeting 
where  Daniel  Woodfield  was  the  preacher,  he  be- 
carne  more  powerfully  convicted  than  on  any  pre- 
vious occasion,  and,  under  deep  religious  feeling,  he 
says  :  "  My  tears  flowed  freely ;  my  knees  became 
feeble,  and  I  trembled  like  Belshazzar ;  my  strength 
failed,  and  I  fell  upon  the  floor ;  the  great  deep  of 
my  heart  appeared  to  be  broken  up."  The  follow- 
ing night  he  was  converted.  He  soon  became  im- 
pressed with  the  conviction  that  he  ought  to  preach 
the  gospel,  but,  without  the  advantages  of  educa- 
tion, and  naturally  timid,  and  feeling  the  great 
responsibility  of  the  work,  he  shrank  from  the  per- 
formance of  the  duty.  Losing,  in  a  great  degree, 
his  religious  enjoyment,  he  became  fully  aroused  to 
a  sense  of  the  obligation,  and,  through  the  persua- 
sions of  his  brethren,  he  at  length  accepted  the  sa- 
cred trust,  and  in  1802  entered  the  Conference. 

His  first  appointment  was  to  the  Barren  Circuit, 
with  James  Gwin;  his  second,  to  the  "Wilder- 
ness," which  "  lay  in  the  mountainous  country  lying 
north  and  west  of  the  valley  of  East  Tennessee."* 
In  1804,  he  was  sent  to  the  Muskingum  and  Kan- 
awha; in  1805,  to  the  Limestone,  which  was  the 
last  circuit  he  traveled  in  Kentucky.  From  this 
period  until  within  a  few  years  of  his  death — when 
he  sustained  a  superannuated  relation — in  Tennes- 
see, in   Mississippi,  in   Pennsylvania,  and  Ohio — 


*Life  and  Times  of  Samuel  Patton,  by  the  Rev.  D.  R.  McAnally, 
p.  131. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  409 

whether  in  charge  of  circuits  and  stations,  or  pre- 
siding over  a  District — he  proved  himself  worthy 
of  the  trust  committed  to  him  by  the  Church. 

The  memoir  presented  by  the  Ohio  Conference, 
at  the  session  immediately  following  his  death,  is  so 
accurate  a  portrait  of  this  good  man,  that  we  cop}^  it 
entire : 

"The  Rev.  Jacob  Young,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Al- 
leghany county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  19th  day  of 
March,  1776.  His  father  was  of  the  Church  of 
England,  and  his  mother  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  though  both  were  strangers  to  the  convert- 
ing power  of  God  until  brought  in  after  days  to  the 
feet  of  the  Saviour  through  the  labors  of  their  own 
son.  It  has  been  often  said,  that  the  circumstances 
under  which  a  man  is  born  and  reared  have  much 
to  do  in  the  formation  of  his  future  character,  and 
that  one  coming  into  life  amid  great  and  stirring 
scenes,  the  offspring  of  parents  deeply  interested  in 
the  great  questions  of  human  life  and  human  lib- 
erty, would  more  probably  be  marked  in  his  mental 
character  with  the  influences  of  those  struggles,  and 
stamped  through  life  with  the  spirit  of  the  age. 
The  subject  of  our  memoir  was  ushered  into  life 
amid  the  struggles  of  a  nation  for  the  boon  of  free- 
dom, and  the  parents  who  rejoiced  in  the  birth  of  a 
son  were  permitted  in  four  months  more  to  rejoice 
in  the  birth  of  a  nation  by  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence. The  first  years  of  the  life  of  our  brother 
were  passed  amid  the  wildest  scenes  of  frontier 
peril,  and  the  objects  of  early  :Qxmiliarity  were  sites 
of   renowned   conflict   and    the   port-holes   of   his 


410  METHODISM 

father's  cabin.  The  high  hopes  of  his  parents, 
based  upon  his  physical  and  mental  activity,  and 
his  uncommon  natural  courage,  were  suddenly  over- 
cast by  malignant  disease,  followed  by  confirmed 
asthma,  which  lasted  until  his  fifteenth  year ;  but 
his  active  mind  struggled  through  the  disabilities 
of  bodily  afiiiction,  and,  under  the  care  of  an  affec- 
tionate mother,  he  grappled  in  childhood  with  many 
of  those  great  thoughts  which  afterward  swelled  his 
mature  and  manly  heart.  The  simple  grandeur  of 
the  Kew  Testament  made  its  impress  upon  his  heart, 
and  love  kindled  for  the  Saviour  as  he  read  the  his- 
tory and  design  of  his  sufferings.  He  looked  by 
faith,  and  heard  the  Saviour  say :  '  Be  of  good 
comfort,  thy  sins  are  all  forgiven.'  For  a  while  he 
was  joyful  and  happy,  but  improper  association 
stole  the  treasure  from  his  heart.  His  health  having 
recovered,  and  his  father  removing  to  the  State  of 
Kentucky,  he  for  a  while  divided  his  time  between 
the  hard  labor  to  which  duty  and  honor  bound  him 
for  the  maintenance  of  his  family,  and  the  wild  sports 
of  thoughtless  frontier  men.  While  thus  engaged, 
he  became  alarmed  at  the  extent  of  his  own  wick- 
edness, and  resolved  to  seek  again  the  path  of  life. 
After  a  severe  struggle  with  the  old  doctrines  of 
the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith,  he  turned  to 
the  word  of  God  alone.  Under  bitter  anguish  of 
spirit,  and  against  the  wishes  of  his  friends,  he  at- 
tended the  preaching  of  the  word  by  the  Methodist 
ministry,  and  was  guided  through  his  dark  and 
painful  struggle  into  the  peace  of  God  which  pass- 
eth    all    understanding.      His   conversion   was    as 


IN     KENTUCKY.  411 

strongly  marked  as  his  agony  had  been  deep  and 
unutterable.  He  united  soon  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  but  felt  all  the  power  of  the 
tempter,  and  learned  painful  and  bitter  lessons, 
which  were  of  service  to  thousands  in  after  days. 
Holy  men  in  the  Church  began  to  point  to  his  fu- 
ture path,  and  the  prayer  of  faith  offered  by  many 
claimed  gospel  qualification  from  the  Holy  Spirit 
for  the  future  minister  of  Christ.  He  felt  w^ithin 
him  an  irrepressible  thirst  for  knowledge,  and 
seized  with  avidity  the  means  of  improvement. 
The  fire  of  the  Lord  was  shut  up  within  his  soul, 
and,  under  an  impression  which  he  dared  not  far- 
ther resist,  at  the  close  of  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer,  and  without  formal  authority  from  the 
Church,  he  preached  his  first  sermon,  saw  a  congre- 
gation bathed  in  tears,  and  felt  in  his  own  spirit  the 
anointing  from  the  Holy  One.  In  September,  1801, 
he  was  licensed  as  a  local  preacher,  and  on  the  17th 
of  February,  1802,  under  the  direction  of  that  great 
master-spirit,  William  McKendree,  he  was  thrust 
out  into  the  active  work  of  the  ministry,  to  fill  the 
place  of  Gabriel  Woodfield,  on  a  large  frontier  cir- 
cuit. As  an  ably  written  life  of  this  distinguished 
man  of  God,  "vvith  the  facts  furnished  by  himself, 
and  revised  by  Dr.  E.  Thomson  and  D.  W.  Clark, 
is  already  before  the  Christian  public,  embracing 
fifty-five  years'  connection  with  the  itinerant  minis- 
try, and  aftbrding  a  rich  feast  to  his  personal  friends, 
and  the  friends  of  true  piety  and  self-developed 
greatness,  we  forbear  to  refer  to  the  especial  fields 
of  his  labor,  or  dwell  upon  the  success  which  at- 


412  METHODISM 

tended  the  work  of  this  faithful  man.  It  seems  to 
us  almost  a  useless  attempt,  even  to  bear  a  truthful 
and  sincere  testimony  to  his  rare  abilities,  ripe 
Christianity,  and  unwearied  labors,  for  the  name 
of  Jacob  Young,  bringing  with  it  an  association  of 
excellences,  is  burned  in  imperishable  characters, 
and  over  so  wide  a  territory,  that  the  kindling  of 
our  feeble  lamp  would  be  obscured  by  the  already 
ever-burning  light  in  the  mind  and  memory  of  his 
numerous  friends.  Permit  us  to  say,  that  as  helper 
on  the  circuit,  in  charge  of  the  w^ork,  presiding 
over  important  Districts,  in  the  great  councils  of 
the  Church,  he  was  ever  marked  as  one  chosen  of 
God,  and  the  heart  of  the  Church  ever  thrilled  with 
gratitude  at  the  thought  that  God  had  favored  her 
with  his  labor  and  his  counsel.  We  would  speak 
more  particularly  of  that  portion  of  his  life  from 
the  close  of  his  biography  to  his  happy  departure 
from  time.  He  had  fully  taught  his  junior  brethren 
the  great  lesson,  how  to  battle  with  all  the  difficul- 
ties which  can  surround  the  days  of  manhood,  and 
which  call  forth  the  strength  of  maturity.  It  was 
his  to  teach  us  another  lesson :  how  to  be  truly 
great,  and  exhibit  the  ripe  fruits  of  Christian  expe- 
rience, and  the  fresh  treasures  of  active  old  age, 
amid  the  shades  which  often  surround  the  decline 
of  life,  and  the  felt  decay  of  once  vigorous  and 
giant  power.  He  was  then  great  in  the  beautiful 
symmetry  of  his  Christian  character,  his  sweet  sub- 
mission to  the  will  of  God,  his  deep  interest  in  all 
the  improvements  of  the  Church,  and  the  more  than 
martial  fire  he  infused  into  the  hearts  of  liis  junior 


IN     KENTUCKY.  413 

brethren.  His  voice  fell  on  tlie  ear  of  the  junior  as 
that  of  an  oracle,  and  the  full  expression  of  his 
countenance  kindled  battle  within  the  depth  of 
their  soul.  lie  had  long  enjoyed  the  blessing  of 
perfect  love,  and  in  his  last  days  that  light  was 
clear,  and  that  power  was  full.  One  year  ago, 
during  the  sitting  of  our  Conference  in  the  city  of 
Columbus,  he  made  his  last  public  address  in  the  col- 
lege campus,  at  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University.  His 
survey  of  early  struggle  and  early  privation  was  full 
of  interest ;  his  rehearsal  of  desires  long  pent  up 
within  the  laboring  mind,  finding  vent,  and  realiz- 
ing full  satisfaction  in  the  noble  provision  which 
there  met  the  eye  for  the  cultivation  of  the  youth- 
ful mind  of  the  Church  and  of  the  community,  was 
a  rich  feast  to  the  vast  concourse  which  hung  upon 
his  lips.  In  the  love-feast  on  the  next  morning,  he 
delivered  his  last  testimony,  like  Moses  about  to  be 
gathered  to  his  fathers,  while  his  countenance 
beamed  with  the  reflection  of  heaven.  In  the  home- 
like sick-room,  in  the  house  of  our  Brother  Towler, 
in  the  city  of  Columbus,  he  still  spoke  such  lessons 
as  only  fall  from  the  lips  of  the  great  and  the  good ; 
and  when  removed  to  the  house  of  his  oldest  son, 
surrounded  by  the  loved  members  of  his  own  fam- 
ily, and  a  few  friends  whom  strong  attraction  had 
drawn  to  the  place,  being  ready  for  his  departure, 
on  the  16th  of  September,  1859,  he  breathed  his 
blessings  upon  those  around  him,  audibly  pro- 
nounced the  words,  '  Sweet  heaven !  sweet  heaven  ! ' 
and  then  passed  upward  at  the  call  of  his  Master. 
On  the  following  Sabbath,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Casper 


414  METHODISM 

preached  an  appropriate  funeral  discourse  in  Town- 
street  Chapel,  in  the  city  of  Columbus,  which  fell 
like  a  message  from  eternity  upon  the  hearts  of  a 
vast  and  weeping  audience.  Devout  men  bore  his 
remains  to  his  burial,  and  his  body  sleeps  in  the 
calm  quiet  of  Greenlawn  Cemetery.  The  sigh  of 
the  Church  responds  that  a  '  prince  and  a  great  man 
has  fallen  in  Israel.'  "  * 

Jesse  Walker  was  admitted  this  year  into  the  West- 
ern Conference,  on  trial.  His  first  appointment  was 
to  the  Red  Eiver  Circuit,!  which  had  previously 
been  embraced  in  the  Cumberland,  and  lay  partly 
in  Kentucky.  In  1803,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
Livingston,  and  in  1804  and  1805,  to  the  Hartford. 
His  labors  on  the  Hartford  Circuit  closed  his  work 
in  Kentucky.  From  this  period,  as  long  as  he  was 
able  to  travel  and  preach,  he  occupied  the  most  dan- 
gerous and  difficult  posts  on  the  frontier.  In  1806, 
his  circuit  was  the  Illinois,  embracing  all  of  what 
is  now  that  flourishing  State,  where  he  could  find  a 
community  that  would  hear  the  gospel.  In  1807, 
he  was  sent  to  the  Missouri  Circuit,  to  occupy  the 
country  embraced  in  that  vast  territor3^  On  the 
following  year  he  was  returned  to  the  Illinois  Cir- 
cuit; in  1809  and  1810,  to  Cape  Girardeau;  and  in 

1811,  we  find  him  again  in  Illinois,  prosecuting 
with  apostolic  zeal  his  high  and  holy  calling.     In 

1812,  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  Illinois  Dis- 

*  General  Minutes  M.  E.  Church,  for  1860,  pp.  273,  274. 

f  On  the  Sulplmr  Fork  of  Eed  Biver,  the  first  attempt  was  made 
by  Benjamin  Ogden  to  form  a  society,  the  first  that  was  made  by  the 
Methodists.     Some  few  joined. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  415 

trict — then  included  in  the  Tennessee  Conference, 
and  embracing  the  Missouri,  Coldwater,  Maramack, 
Cape  Girardeau,  'New  Madrid,  and  Illinois  Circuits — 
where  he  remained  for  four  years.  In  1816,  we  find 
him  in  the  Missouri  Conference,  in  charge  of  the 
Missouri  District,  over  which  he  presides  for  three 
years.  In  1819  and  1820,  his  appointments  are : 
Jesse  "Walker,  missionary,  investing  him  with  au- 
thority to  extend  his  labors  to  the  farthest  borders 
of  civilization,  and  to  plant  the  standard  of  the  cross 
upon  its  very  verge. 

In  1821,  he  was  appointed  missionary  to  St.  Louis, 
and  in  1822,  he  was  the  Conference  missionary  in 
the  State  of  Missouri.  In  1823,  his  appointment 
reads :  "  Jesse  Walker,  missionary  to  the  Missouri 
Conference,  whose  attention  is  particularly  directed 
to  the  Indians  within  the  bounds  of  said  Confer- 
ence ; "  and  in  1824 :  "  Jesse  "Walker,  missionary  to 
the  settlements  between  the  Illinois  and  the  Missis- 
sippi Elvers,  and  to  the  Indians  in  the  vicinity  of 
Fort  Clark."  In  1825,  he  is  in  the  Illinois  Confer- 
ence, and  missionary  to  the  Pottawatomie  Indians. 
Ill  1826  and  1827,  his  appointment  is  to  the  Potta- 
watomie Mission;  in  1828,  to  the  Peoria,  and  in 
1829,  to  the  Fox  Eiver  Mission.  In  the  year  1830, 
he  has  charge  of  the  Chicago  Mission,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  is  Presiding  Elder  on  Mission  Dis- 
trict, embracing  five  separate  charges,  and  also 
missionary  to  Deplain.  His  appointment  for  1832 
is  to  the  Chicago  District,  and  missionary  to  Chi- 
cago, and  the  following  year  to  the  Chicago  Mission. 
This  was  his  last  charge.     From  the  Conference  of 


416  METHODISM 

1834  until  his  death,  he  sustained  a  superannuated 
relation. 

Amongst  the  preachers  of  his  day,  for  sacrifice, 
labor,  and  suffering,  Jesse  Walker  stands  without  a 
peer. 

The  following  sketch,  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev. 
A.  L.  P.  Green,  D.D.,  of  the  Tennessee  Conference, 
will  be  read  with  interest : 

"  The  Rev.  Jesse  "Walker  was  a  character  perfectly 
unique  :  he  had  no  duplicate.  He  was  to  the  Church 
what  Daniel  Boone  w^as  to  the  early  settler — always 
first,  always  ahead  of  everybody  else,  preceding  all 
others  long  enough  to  be  the  pilot  of  the  new-comer. 
Brother  Walker  is  found  first  in  Davidson  county, 
Tennessee.  He  lived  within  about  three  miles  of 
the  then  village  of  IN'ashville ;  and  was  at  that  time 
a  man  of  family,  poor,  and  to  a  considerable  extent 
without  education.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in 
1802,  and  appointed  to  the  Red  River  Circuit.  But 
the  Minutes,  in  his  case,  are  no  guide,  from  the  fact 
that  he  was  sent  by  the  Bishops  and  Presiding  El- 
ders in  every  direction  where  new  w^ork  was  to  be 
cut  out.  His  natural  vigor  was  almost  superhuman. 
He  did  not  seem  to  require  food  and  rest  as  other 
men ;  no  day's  journey  was  long  enough  to  tire 
him  ;  no  fare  too  poor  for  him  to  live  upon  ;  to  him, 
in  traveling,  roads  and  paths  were  useless  things — 
he  blazed  out  his  own  course ;  no  way  was  too  bad 
for  him  to  travel — if  his  horse  could  not  carry  him, 
he  led  hira,  and  when  his  horse  could  not  follow,  he 
would  leave  him,  and  take  it  on  foot ;  and  if  night 
and  a  cabin  did  not  come  together,  he  would  pass 


IN    KENTUCKY.  417 

the  night  alone  in  the  wilderness,  which  with  him 
was  no  uncommon  occurrence.  Looking  up  the  fron- 
tier settler  was  his  chief  delight ;  and  he  found  his 
way  through  hill  and  hrake  as  by  instinct — he  was 
never  lost ;  and,  as  Bishop  McKendree  once  said  of 
him,  in  addressing  an  Annual  Conference,  he  never 
complained ;  and  as  the  Church  moved  West  and 
ISTorth,  it  seemed  to  bear  Walker  before  it.  Every 
time  you  would  hear  from  him,  he  was  still  farther 
on ;  and  when  the  settlements  of  the  white  man 
seemed  to  take  shape  and  form,  he  was  next  heard 
of  among  the  Indian  tribes  of  the  E'orth-west. 

"  In  1807,  he  was  sent  to  Missouri,  and  at  once 
bent  his  way  to  St.  Louis,  which  was  at  that  time  as 
destitute  of  true  piety  as  any  point  in  America. 
On  reaching  the  town,  he  passed  through  it  in  vari- 
ous directions  in  search  of  a  Methodist,  but  found 
no  one  who  could  inform  him  where  such  a  charac- 
ter could  be  found.  At  length  he  passed  out,  and 
was  making  his  way  into  the  country  beyond ;  but 
when  he  had  gone  quite  out  of  the  town,  he  drew 
up  his  horse,  and  looked  back  upon  the  place  for  a 
few  minutes,  and  at  length  said,  in  the  name  of 
that  Saviour  who  said  to  his  disciples,  ^  Go  ye  into 
all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  crea- 
ture,' I  will  not  give  you  up  ;  I  will  try  again  !  So 
he  turned  about,  rode  again  into  the  town,  and  re- 
newed his  inquiry.  At  length  he  was  told  that 
there  was  a  man  down  on  Front  street  who  was  a 
Methodist.  Taking  the  name  and  directions,  he 
went  in  search  of  his  man,  whom  he  soon  found. 
Calling  him  brother,  telling  his  own  name  and  busi- 

VOL.  I. — 14 


418  METHODISM 

ness,  lie  asked  such  coimtenauce  aud  cooperation 
as  the  circumstances  of  the  case  required.  The  man 
gave  him  the  wink,  and  beckoned  him  into  a  back- 
room, several  persons  being  present,  and  said  to 
him  about  as  follows  :  'Look  here  :  I  was  a  Method- 
ist where  I  came  from,  but  it  is  not  generally  known 
here,  and  I  do  not  wish  it  to  be.  You  cannot  do 
any  thing  in  this  town,  and  it  is  useless  to  try.' 
Brother  Walker  soon  after  learned  that  the  man 
w\as  keeping  wdiat  would  be  called  in  these  days  a 
*  doggery,'  and  could  not  be  relied  on  in  Church 
matters.  He  went  at  once  to  a  public-house,  and 
put  up.  He  made  inquiry  where  he  could  rent  a 
room.  An  old  shell  of  a  house  was  soon  found  and 
rented,  and  in  a  few  days  Walker  had  set  up  house- 
keeping on  a  scale  of  economy  which  would  aston- 
ish the  present  generation,  and  took  measures  to 
have  ]3reaching  in  his  own  room ;  so  that  his  little 
establishment  was  kitchen,  chamber,  dining-room, 
parlor,  and  meeting-house;  and,  gloomy  as  the 
prospects  were,  he  soon  gathered  together  a  little 
handful  of  serious,  well-disposed  persons,  some 
three  or  four  of  whom  had  been  members  of  the 
Church  before.  But  not  much  could  be  done,  for 
the  want  of  a  house  of  worship.  He  could  not  rent 
a  suitable  building,  and  w^ould  not  have  been  able 
to  pay  for  one  if  it  could  have  been  found.  At 
length  he  was  told  by  an  individual  that  he  would 
give  him  timber  to  build  him  a  church,  but  it  was 
across  the  Mississippi,  on  the  Illinois  shore,  growing 
in  the  forest.  But  notwithstanding,  light  began  to 
break  upon  the  mind  of  Walker.    ISTcxt,  he  had  the 


IN    KENTUCKY.  419 

offer  of  a  lot  to  build  upon.  So  his  plan  was  at 
once  laid.  He  hired  a  man  to  aid  him,  took  his 
tools,  cheese  and  crackers,  crossed  over  the  river, 
and  went  to  work,  cutting,  hewing,  and  sawing,  and 
in  a  few  months  had  his  frame  and  plank  all  gotten 
out :  his  plank  was  put  into  a  kiln  to  dry,  and  by 
the  time  he  had  put  up  his  frame,  the  plank  was 
sufficiently  seasoned  to  work.  The  result  was,  that 
at  the  end  of  the  year  he  reported  to  Conference  a 
church  in  St.  Louis — house,  congregation,  and  all — 
the  labor  of  his  own  hands.  Such  was  Jesse  Walker. 
His  education,  as  we  have  before  stated,  was  poor, 
with  but  little  opportunity  for  reading,  though  he 
studied  nature  closely,  was  wonderfully  gifted  in 
prayer  and  exhortation,  while  his  faith  was  uncom- 
promising; and  being  well  acquainted  with  human 
nature,  he  became  a  powerful  instrument,  in  the 
hands  of  God,  of  spreading  the  gospel  in  the  Val- 
ley of  the  Mississippi And  it  may  be 

said  of  Walker,  that  he  knew  what  books  were 
made  out  of:  he  understood  how  to  use  the  raw 
material.  He  took  lessons  from  rocks  and  trees, 
mountains  and  rivers ;  he  held  Nature's  keys,  and 
forced  her,  secretive  as  she  is,  to  divulge  her  secrets. 
He  lived  in  the  ante-chamber  of  Wisdom's  store- 
house. He  slaked  his  thirst  from  the  mountain- 
brook  at  its  source,  plucked  flowers  from  stalks  that 
had  never  been  transplanted,  and  read  the  volume 
of  nature  in  the  first  edition,  without  note  or  com- 
ment.    He  was  one  of  nature's  great  men." 

Previous  to  the  admission  of  Jesse  Walker  into 
the   Conference,  he  resided  in   Davidson  county, 


420  METHODISM 

Tennessee.  Deprived  of  the  advantages  of  edu- 
cation, yet  possessing  a  soul  burning  with  a  desire 
for  the  salvation  of  the  people,  he  oiFered  himself 
to  the  Conference,  and  was  accepted.  With  a  wife 
and  several  children,  he  was  not  deterred  by  the 
difficulties  that  must  meet  him  in  the  support  of 
the  loved  ones  intrusted  to  his  care.  Of  moderate 
preaching  abilities,  he  was  unable  to  discuss  those 
doctrines  of  the  Bible  involved  in  controversy,  but, 
with  "  thoughts  that  breathe,  and  words  that  burn," 
he  would  tell  the  simple  story  of  the  cross  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  melt  the  hardest  heart.  Success 
crowned  his  labors  wherever  he  went,  and  through 
his  instrumentality  thousands  were  awakened  and 
brought  to  Christ,  and  the  wilderness  and  solitary 
places  were  made  glad,  and  deserts  rejoiced  and 
blossomed  as  the  rose. 

Saperannuaicd !  how  hard  the  stroke  on  such  a 
spirit  as  "Walker's !  His  labors  for  the  Church 
closed,  he  bows  in  sweet  and  calm  submission  to 
the  Master's  will,  and  patiently  waits  until  his  end 
comes.  ]^or  did  he  wait  long.  On  the  5th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1835,  while  the  Illinois  Conference,  of  which 
he  was  a  member,  was  in  session,  at  his  own  home, 
in  Clark  county,  Illinois,  and  in  the  bosom  of  his 
family,  he  passed  to  the  inheritance  of  the  blessed. 
"  The  last  moments  of  our  deceased  brother  were 
such  as  might  be  expected  from  his  long  and  labo- 
rious life  in  the  way  of  doing  good.  To  a  ministe- 
rial brother,  who  visited  him  shortly  before  his 
demise,  he  said,  God  had  been  with  him  from  the 
time  of  his  conversion,  and  was  still  with  him.    Ilis 


IN     KENTUCKY.  421 

last  moments  were  tranquil,  and  he  died  in  full  and 
confident  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality."* 

Methodism  was  now  extending  its  borders  in  the 
southern  portion  of  the  State.  The  Red  Eiver  Cir- 
cuit, which  lay  partly  in  Xentucky,  and  to  which 
Jesse  Walker  had  been  appointed,  had  previously 
belonged  to  the  Cumberland  Circuit,  but  this  year 
was  enlarged  by  the  labors  of  Mr.  Walker.  We  will 
hereafter  include  a  portion  of  the  membership  of  this 
circuit  in  our  statistics.  The  Barren  Circuit,  to  which 
James  Gwin  and  Jacob  Young  were  appointed, 
was  also  formed  this  year.  A  small  membership  of 
one  hundred  and  fifteen,  made  up  of  societies  formed 
chiefly  through  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Richard 
Pope,  a  local  preacher  from  Virginia,  who  had 
removed  to  Kentucky,  and  settled  in  Barren  county, 
was  reported  to  the  Conference  of  1802,  as  the  nu- 
cleus around  which  the  Barren  Circuit  was  to  be 
formed.  The  Buck  Creek  Church,  in  (now)  Allen 
county,  was  the  principal  society.  An  interview 
between  the  two  preachers  appointed  to  the  Barren 
Circuit  impressed  them  both  with  the  belief  that 
the  territory  designed  to  be  embraced  in  the  Barren 
Circuit,  and  through  which  the  Big  and  Little  Bar- 
ren, Green,  and  Cumberland  Rivers  flowed,  begin- 
ning at  the  line  that  divided  Kentucky  from 
Tennessee,  extending  eastwardly  to  near  the  Crab 
Orchard,  was  too  large  to  be  embraced  in  one  cir- 
cuit. They  agreed  upon  a  division  of  the  work, 
Mr.  Gwin  taking  the  western,  to  be  called  Barren 

*  General  Minutes,  Vol.  II.,  p.  487. 


422  METHODISM 

Circuit,  and  Mr.  Young  the  eastern,  to  be  called 
Wayne. 

One  of  the  first  societies  formed  in  Barren  county 
by  Mr.  Gwin  was  at  the  house  of  Winn  Malone. 
He  had  removed  from  Virginia  in  1788,  and  settled 
nine  miles  north  of  Glasgow,  on  the  Greensburg 
road.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Jane  Malone,  had  joined  the 
Methodist  Church  in  Brunswick  county,  Virginia, 
about  the  year  1785 ;  and  Mr.  Malone,  though  at 
that  time  not  a  member  of  the  Church,  offered  his 
house,  so  soon  as  an  opportunity  was  presented,  as 
a  place  for  preaching,*  and  a  home  for  the  weary 
itinerant.  For  more  than  thirty  years  his  neighbors 
assembled  beneath  his  roof  to  hear  the  word  of 
life.  There  many  quarterly  meetings  were  held, 
and  many  revival  seasons  blessed  the  labors  of  the 
ministers  of  Christ.  Among  those  converted  to 
God  were  four  of  his  sons — Benjamin,  Green,  Isaac, 
and  Thomas  E.  Malone,  all  of  whom  became  useful 
itinerant  ministers.  The  first,  Benjamin,  died  in 
great  peace,  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  in  1856. 
Green  Malone,  after  having  filled  many  important 
positions  in  the  Church,  breathed  his  last  in  great 
triumph,  near  Eufaula,  Alabama,  in  the  autumn  of 
1860.  Isaac  Malone  resides  in  Muhlenberg  county, 
Kentucky,  where  he  preaches  as  his  health  permits, 
having  been  compelled  to  retire  from  the  itinerant 
work  in  consequence  of  physical  inability.  Thomas 
R.  Malone,  the  3^oungest  of  the  four  brothers,  re- 

■^' Preaching  was  continued  at  the  house  of  Winn  ]\Ialone  until 
1835,  when  Concord  Church  was  built. — Letter  to  the  author  from  Mr. 
Malone's  grandson,  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Malone,  of  the  LoiusviUc  Conference. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  423 

sides  with  his  son,  the  Eev.  Joseph  S.  Malone,  of  the 
Louisville  Conference — at  present  (1868)  the  pastor 
of  the  Methodist  Church  in  Russellville — and  is  con- 
fined with  a  rheumatic  affection,  from  which  he  has 
suffered  through  long  years,  exhibiting  that  patience 
which  Christianity  alone  can  bestow. 

In  1814,  Winn  Malone  joined  the  Church ;  and 
in  1841,  after  twenty-seven  years  of  devotion  to  its 
interest,  he  died  in  the  triumph  of  Christian  faith. 

His  excellent  wife  survived  him  for  a  few  years. 
In  1847,  after  a  connection  with  the  Church  of  sixty- 
two  years,  in  holy  triumph  she  entered  upon  eternal 
rest.     They  both  died  in  Barren  county,  Kentucky. 

In  the  Barren  Circuit,  as  organized  by  Mr.  Gwin, 
he  was  greatly  aided  in  his  work  by  the  Rev.  Rich- 
ard Pope,*  a  local  preacher,  who,  a  short  time  be- 
fore, had  emigrated  from  Virginia.  In  fact,  several 
of  the  societies  were  formed  by  Mr.  Pope  previous 
to  the  visit  of  Mr.  Gwin  to  Barren  county.  He  had 
been  a  traveling  preacher  in  Virginia,  but  after 
three  years  in  the  itinerant  work,  his  constitution 
gave  way,  and  he  was  compelled  to  "  circumscribe 
his  labors.*' 

"In  his  public  ministrations,  he  was  plain,  pointed, 
and  energetic,  and,  while  an  itinerant,  had  many 
seals  to  his  ministry.  As  a  local  preacher,  he  la- 
bored much,  and  was  useful,"  so  long  as  his  health 
permitted  him  to  preach.  Many  of  the  first  socie- 
ties in  Southern  Kentucky  were  formed  by  him. 


"^  He  was  the  father  of  the  Rev.  Solomon  Pope,  formerly  of  the 
Kentucky  Conference. 


424  METHODISM 

His  whole  life  was  characterized  by  strict  con- 
formity to  the  teachings  of  the  Bible ;  so  that,  dur- 
ing his  last  illness,  he  often  said:  "I  have  nothing 
to  do  but  to  die." 

On  the  1st  of  July,  1820,  he  passed  away.  *'But 
a  short  time  before  his  ransomed  soul  forsook  its 
earthly  tenement,  he  comforted  his  weeping  com- 
panion with  his  prospects  of  heaven,  and  exhorted 
his  children,  and  all  about  him,  to  prepare  to  meet 
him  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  and  his  last  and  dying 
words  were,  ^  Glory,  glory  ! '  "  * 

In  that  division  of  the  circuit  confided  to  Jacob 
Young,  he  labored  with  tireless  energy.  Entering 
upon  his  journey,  he  says:  "In  two  days  I  arrived 
at  Manoah  Lasley's,  where  I  spent  a  few  days,  rested 
my  horse,  and  recruited  my  wardrobe.  I  found 
myself  at  a  very  great  loss  to  know  how  to  form  a 
circuit  in  that  vast  wilderness,  and  had  no  one  to 
instruct  me.  I  preached  on  Sabbath-day  in  Father 
Lasley's  house,  and  set  off  on  Monday  on  my  great 
and  important  enterprise.  I  concluded  to  travel  ^ve 
miles,  as  nearly  as  I  could  guess,  then  stop,  recon- 
noiter  the  neighborhood,  and  find  some  kind  person 
who  would  let  me  preach  in  his  log-cabin,  and  so  on 
till  I  had  performed  the  entire  round. 

"I  set  out  early,  but  had  to  travel  ten  miles  be- 
fore I  found  a  preaching-place.  I  was  directed  to 
call  on  an  old  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Step.  I 
found  him  cribbing  his  corn ;  two  large  negroes 
were  doing  the  work,  and  he  was  keeping  count.    I 

*  Methodist  Magazine,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  80. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  425 

spoke  to  him,  but  he  gave  me  a  very  cold  reception. 
I  told  him  my  business,  but  he  was  more  intent  on 
measuring  his  corn  than  talking  about  preaching. 
I  felt  determined  not  to  be  discouraged  till  I  had 
pushed  things  to  the  bottom.  I  then  said  to  him, 
'I  am  a  Methodist  preacher,  sent  into  this  country 
to  try  to  form  a  new  circuit'  He  rose  up,  looked 
me  full  in  the  face,  exclaiming,  *  You  are  a  Method- 
ist preacher?'  I  responded,  *Yes.'  'Come  into 
the  house,'  said  he.  I  walked  in,  and  found  a  very 
neat  log-ho use,  pretty  well  furnished.  '!N"ow,'  said 
the  old  gentleman,  'this  is  your  home.'  He  then 
went  on  to  say,  '  I  thought,  when  you  first  spoke  to 
me,  you  were  a  Baptist  preacher.'  He  then  in- 
formed me  that  he  had  no  fellowship  with  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  nor  did  he  believe  the  doctrine  they 
preached ;  neither  did  he  think  they  were  doing  any 
good.  I  stayed  all  night,  and  enjoyed  the  brother's 
society  well. 

"  The  next  day  he  sent  out  his  servants,  and 
gathered  in  a  good  congregation.  I  preached,  and 
had  a  delightful  meeting.  A  Presbyterian  Elder 
attended  the  meeting;  his  family  were  converted, 
and  he  caught  the  spirit  of  revival.  I  went  home 
with  him,  and  spent  the  evening  at  his  fireside, 
much  to  my  own  satisfaction.  This  gentleman's 
name  was  Kelsey.  He  was  an  intelligent  man,  a 
devoted  Christian,  and  was  a  great  advantage  to  me 
through  the  year. 

"  The  next  day  I  traveled  five  miles,  and  stopped 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Guthrie.  Here  I  found  a  con- 
gregation waiting  for  me.      The  most  prominent 


426  METHODISM 

man  in  that  neighborhood  was  George  Taylor.  With 
his  assistance,  I  immediately  formed  a  society  there, 
which  flourished  all  the  time  I  remained  on  the 
circuit. 

"Next  day  I  had  a  long  ride  through  a  dreary 
country.  Late  in  the  evening  I  came  to  a  little  log- 
cabin,  standing  in  the  woods,  with  no  stable  or  out- 
buildings of  any  kind.  Seeing  a  woman  in  the 
door,  I  rode  up  and  asked  if  I  could  stay  all  night. 
She  seemed  to  think  not.  I  paused  a  few  moments, 
thinking  what  to  do.  I  was  afraid  to  go  any  farther, 
lest  I  should  have  to  lie  out  all  night.  That  I  w^as 
afraid  to  do,  as  the  weather  was  very  cold,  and  there 
were  always  a  great  many  ravenous  wolves  in  the 
barrens.  My  life  would  be  in  danger,  and  there 
was  nothing  to  encourage  me  to  stay  at  this  place. 
I  knew  I  would  have  to  tie  my  hungry,  tired  horse 
to  a  tree,  without  any  shelter  or  food.  The  cabin 
looked  very  dreary,  and  the  woman  was  unwilling 
to  let  me  stay.  She  was  not  entirely  alone,  but  had 
several  children,  and  one  daughter  partly  grown, 
which  inclined  me  to  think  I  could  stay  with  safety. 
I  finally  concluded  to  let  her  know  who  I  was,  and 
what  business  I  was  on.  I  said  to  her,  ^I  am  a 
Methodist  preacher,  sent  by  Bishop  Asbury  to  try 
to  form  a  circuit.' 

"This  information  appeared  to  electrify  her. 
Her  countenance  changed,  and  her  eyes  fairly 
sparkled.  She  stood  for  some  time  without  speak- 
ing, and  then  exclaimed,  '  La,  me  !  has  a  Methodist 
preacher  come  at  last?  Yes,  brother,  you  shall 
stay  all  night.     Mr.  Carson   is    not  at  home,  but 


IN     KENTUCKY.  427 

we  will  do  the  best  we  can  for  you  vvith  a  glad 
heart.' " 

Thus  he  passed  on  from  place  to  place,  occasion- 
ally finding  small  classes  that  had  been  formed  by 
pious  local  preachers  who  had  settled  in  the  coun- 
try— sometimes  receiving  a  cordial  welcome,  at  oth- 
ers meeting  with  repulses — until  he  had  formed  a 
full  four-weeks'  circuit. 

During  the  year,  his  labors  were  greatlj^  blessed. 
Revivals  of  religion,  under  his  ministry,  animated 
his  heart,  and  made  him  say,  ^'  These  are  great  and 
glorious  days." 

^Not  yet  an  ordained  minister,  Lewis  Garrett,  who 
had  charge  of  the  Danville  Circuit,  exchanged  a 
round  of  appointments  with  him,  "  regulated  the 
classes  that  had  been  formed,  baptized  all  who 
wished  to  be  baptized — adults  and  children  — 
preached  many  sermons  on  baptism,  and  answered 
all  the  Baptist  arguments  to  the  general  satisfac- 
tion." Having  closed  his  year's  labors,  he  says: 
"  I  was  now  leaving  my  new  circuit,  while,  as  yet, 
I  had  given  it  no  name ;  and,  as  I  would  have  to 
report  it  at  Conference,  it  must,  of  necessity,  have 
a  name.  I  called  it  Wayne  Circuit,  after  Gen.  An- 
thony "Wayne.  I  had  taken  three  hundred  and  one 
members  into  Church  this  year." 

Up  to  this  period,  Methodism  had  not  extended 
its  influence  into  the  counties  in  the  western  portion 
of  the  State.  In  these  counties  were  to  be  found 
"  a  good  many  scattering  members  "  of  the  Church, 
but  without  any  organization.  Amongst  those  who 
had  professed  religion  in  the  Red  River  Circuit,  was 


428  METHODISM 

Peter  Cartwright,  whose  father,  about  this  time,  re- 
moved from  Logan  to  Livingston  county.  Previous 
to  his  leaving  Logan  county,  Mr.  Cartwright  was 
licensed  by  Jesse  Walker  to  exhort,  and  invested  by 
John  Page,  the  Presiding  Elder,  with  authority  "to 
travel  through  all  that  destitute  region,  hold  meet- 
ings, organize  classes,  and,  in  a  word,  to  form  a 
circuit,  and  meet  him  the  next  fall,  at  the  fourth 
quarterly  meeting  of  the  Eed  River  Circuit,  with  a 
plan  of  the  new  circuit,  number  of  members,  names 
of  preachers,  if  any,  exhorters,  class-leaders,  etc."* 

Mr.  Cartwright  was  successful,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1803,  reported  to  Messrs.  Page  and  Walker  the 
Livingston  Circuit,  with  about  one  hundred  mem- 
bers, to  which  Mr.  Walker  was  appointed  the  fol- 
lowing year. 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  we  find  an  increase  of 
Jive  hundred  and  eighty-four  members. 

*  Autobiography  of  Peter  Cartwright,  p.  59, 


IN    KENTUCKY.  429 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

FROM  THE  CONFERENCE  OF  1803  TO  THE  CONFERENCE 

OF  1808. 

Conference  meets  at  Mount  Gerizim  —  Bishop  Asbury  present — 
Anthony  Houston  —  John  McClure  —  Adjet  McGuire  —  Fletcher 
Sullivan  —  Louther  Taylor  —  John  A.  Granade  —  Learner 
Blackman -^- Increase  of  membership  —  The  Conference  of  1804 

—  Abdel  Coleman  —  Joshua  Barnes  —  Joshua  Biggin  —  "William 
J.  Thompson — Edmund  Wilcox — James  Axley — Peter  Cartwright 
— Asa  Shinn — Benjamin  Edge — ]\Iiles  Harper — George  Askins — 
Samuel  Parker — Death  of  Wilson  Lee — Livingston  and  Hartford 
Circuit — Churches  organized  in  Ohio  county — Church  organized 
at  Thomas  Stith's,  in  Breckinridge  county — Thomas  Taylor — Mar- 
garet Taylor — Licking  Circuit — Increase  of  membership — The  Con- 
ference of  1805  —  Bishop  Asbury  present  —  Thomas  Heliums  — 
Henry  Fisher — Samuel  Sellers — David  Young — Moses  Ashworth — 
William  Ellington  —  Richard  Browning  —  William  Houston — • 
Joshua  Oglesby — A  small  class  in  Louisville — Increase  in  member- 
ship— Conference  of  1806 — Bishop  Asbury  present — Abbot  God- 
dard — Hector  Sandford — Joseph  Bennett — Frederick  Hood — Zadoc 
B.  Thaxton — Abraham  Amos — Joseph  Williams — John  Thompson 
— William  Hitt  —  Joseph  Oglesby  —  The  first  deed  of  ground,  on 
which  to  build  a  church,  in  Mason  county — Increase  of  membership 

—  The  Conference  of  1807  —  Bishop  Asbury  present  —  Thomas 
Stillwell  —  Mynus  Lay  ton — Josiah  Crawford — John  Craig — Wil- 
liam Lewis — Jacob  Turman — Henry  ]\Iallory — James  King — Sela 
Paine  —  Milton  Ladd  —  Joseph  Hays  —  Elisha  W.  Bowman  —  The 
Silver  Creek  Circuit,  in  Indiana  Territory,  formed  —  Kennerly 
Chapel  —  Pond  Meeting-house — Increase  in  membership  —  Causes 
of  locations — Our  Review. 

The  Western  Conference  for  1803,  met  at  Mount 


430  METHODISM 

Gerizim,  in  Harrison  county,  on  the  2d  of  October 
Bishop  Asburj  presided.  On  his  way  to  the  Con- 
ference, he  passed  through  Ohio,  to  look  after  the 
interests  of  the  Church  in  that  Territory ;  and  on 
the  28th  of  September,  "crossed  the  Ohio  Kiver 
into  the  State  of  Kentucky,  Fleming  county,  stop- 
ping at  Salathiel  Fitch's." 

On  the  following  day,  he  passed  "  through  Bour- 
bon county,"  and  "  rode  thirty-three  miles  to  Benja- 
min Coleman's,  at  Mount  Gerizim,  the  place  ap- 
pointed for  the  Conference."  On  the  Sabbath  pre- 
ceding the  Conference,  he  "had  to  preach  from  a 
stand  in  the  woods  to  about  two  thousand  people." 
On  Monday,  he  says,  "  We  entered  fully  upon  our 
Conference  work;  but  I  had  to  preach,  nevertheless. 
AYe  had  preaching  every  day ;  and  the  people  con- 
tinued singing  and  prayer,  night  and  day,  with  little 
intermission.  On  Wednesday  the  meeting  closed. 
We  hope  there  were  twenty  souls  converted  to  God, 
besides  five  who  are  reported  to  have  been  converted 
at  a  family  meeting.  Our  Conference  ended  on 
Thursday,  the  6th.  I  had  taken  cold,  but  rode 
twelve  miles  to  Smith's,  and  was  driven  by  illness 
early  to  bed.  Next  day  I  rose  unwell,  and  con- 
tinued my  route  through  Paris.  The  day  was  ex- 
cessively warm,  but  I  made  twenty  miles  to  Dr. 
Hinde's,  in  Clarke  county.  Brothers  McKendree, 
Garrett,  Douthet,  and  Granade  were  with  me."* 

Anthony  Houston,  John  McClure,  Adjet  McGuire, 
and  Fletcher  Sullivan,  were  admitted  on  trial,  and 

^Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III.,  pp.  130,  131. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  431 

Louther  Taylor,  John  A.  Granade,  and  Learner 
Blackman,  who  had  previously  entered  the  itinerant 
field,  received  appointments  for  the  first  time  in 
Kentucky. 

Of  the  early  life  and  conversion  of  Anthony 
Houston  we  have  no  information.  He  entered  the 
Conference  this  year,  and  was  appointed  to  the  Bar- 
ren Circuit,  where,  "by  his  piety  and  zeal,"  he  was 
remarkably  useful.  In  1804,  he  w^as  sent  to  iN'ew 
Kiver,  in  Virginia ;  the  following  year,  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  Holston ;  in  1806,  he  was  sent  beyond 
the  Ohio  to  the  Scioto  Circuit;  in  1807,  to  the 
"Wachita ;  and  in  1808,  to  the  Claiborne,  in  Missis- 
sippi. In  1809,  he  was  returned  to  Kentucky,  and 
appointed  to  Limestone  and  Fleming  Circuit,  and, 
at  the  close  of  that  year,  located. 

During  the  seven  years  of  his  connection  with 
the  Conference,  he  was  excelled  by  none  of  his  col- 
leagues in  his  devotion  to  the  Church.  Whether 
he  preached  in  Virginia,  in  Ohio,  in  the  lowlands 
of  Mississippi,  or  in  Kentucky,  he  made  "good 
proof  of  his  ministry,"  everywhere  laboring  to  the 
utmost  of  his  strength.  Unable  longer  to  endure 
the  toils  incident  to  the  life  of  a  traveling  preacher, 
in  1810,  he  asked  for  a  location.  He  settled  in 
Flemingsburg,  where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine. 

The  Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper  thus  speaks  of  him 
in  his  "Autumn  Leaves  :  " 

"Dr.  Houston  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
preaching  talents.  He  was  fond  of  investigation, 
and  often  went  into  such  fine-spun  metaphysical  dis- 


432 


METHODISM 


quisitions  as  to  be  sometimes  suspected  of  hetero- 
doxy ;  but  he  always  insisted  that  he  was  a  Meth- 
odist of  the  "Wesleyan  school.  He  was  possessed 
of  a  serious  mind,  and  his  manners  were  grave  and 
dignified.  Great  afflictions  had  befallen  him  in  his 
family  relations.  He  lost  his  wife,  and  every  child 
but  two,  in  the  course  of  a  single  week,  by  cholera, 
during  the  prevalence  of  that  disease  in  1833 ;  but 
he  submitted  without  a  murmur.  He  was  finally 
called  away  by  apoplexy,  without  a  moment's  warn- 
ing, and  I  trust  rests  in  peace." 

John  McClure,  who  entered  the  Conference  this 
year,  was  appointed  to  the  Limestone  Circuit.  In 
1804,  he  was  sent,  with  Asa  Shinn,  to  the  "Wayne, 
and  in  1805,  to  the  Clinch  Circuit,  which  "  included 
Eussell,  Scott,  and  part  of  Lee  counties,  Virginia, 
and  a  part  of  Tennessee,  lying  north  of  the  Holston 
River."  In  1806,  his  appointment  was  to  Powell's 
Valley,  which  "  embraced  all  the  settled  counties 
lying  between  Clinch  River  and  the  Cumberland 
Mountains,  from  about  Lee  Court-house  in  Virginia, 
on  as  far  west  as  the  settlements  extended."  The 
following  year,  he  had  charge  of  the  Cumberland 
Circuit.  In  1808  and  1809,  he  presided  over  the 
Mississippi  District,  as  successor  to  Jacob  Young. 
The  three  following  years,  he  sustained  a  superan- 
nuated relation.  In  1813,  he  was  sent  to  the  Flint 
Circuit,  in  the  ITashville  District,  and,  at  the  close 
of  the  year,  located. 

Adjet  McGuire  was  also  admitted  this  year,  and 
appointed  to  the  Salt  River  Circuit ;  in  1804,  to  the 
Danville ;  and  the  following  year,  to  the  Licking.   In 


IN     KENTUCKY.  433 

180G,  he  was  sent  to  the  Mad  River  Circuit,  in  the 
North-western  Territory ;  and,  at  the  close  of  the 
year,  was  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  traveled  again 
on  the  Salt  River  Circuit,  on  which  he  finished  his 
labors  as  an  itinerant.  At  the  Conference  of  1808, 
he  located. 

The  name  of  Fletcher  Sullivan  appears  on  the 
Minutes  for  only  two  years.  In  1803,  he  has  charge 
of  the  Shelby  Circuit ;  and  in  1804,  he  is  the  col- 
league of  William  Crutchfield,  on  the  Nashville; 
after  which  his  name  disappears  from  the  roll  of  the 
Conference. 

Louther  Taylor  became  an  itinerant  in  the  spring 
of  1800,  and  was  appointed  to  the  Dover  Circuit, 
and  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  to  the  Cecil — 
the  former  in  Delaware,  and  the  latter  in  Maryland. 
In  1801,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Western  Confer- 
ence, and  appointed  to  New  River,  and  in  1802,  to 
the  French  Broad  Circuit,  both  in  the  Holston  Dis- 
trict. In  1803,  he  enters  Kentucky,  where  he  con- 
tinues but  one  year,  having  charge  of  the  Limestone 
Circuit.  The  remaining  two  years  of  his  connection 
with  the  itinerancy,  he  spends  in  Ohio,  on  the  Scioto 
and  Muskingum  Circuits,  and  locates  at  the  Con- 
ference of  1806. 

Among  the  early  itinerants  in  the  West,  no  one, 
perhaps,  attracted  more  attention,  considering  the 
brief  period  of  his  connection  with  the  Conference, 
than  did  John  A.  Granade.  He  was  a  remarkable 
man.  He  came  to  Tennessee  about  the  year  1798. 
In  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  where  he  had  previ- 
ously lived,  he  had  made  a  profession  of  religion ; 


434  M  E  T  H  0  D  I  S  M 

and  believing  it  his  duty  to  preach  the  gospel,  yet 
rejecting  the  Divine  call,  he  lost  his  religious  enjoy- 
ment, while  deep  despair  settled  over  all  his  hopes. 

The  deep  anguish  of  heart  evinced  in  his  melan- 
choly countenance  excited  the  sympathy  of  the 
Church,  and  the  commiseration  of  all  who  knew 
him.  By  the  community  in  which  he  resided,  he 
was  termed  ''the  wild  man."  His  "agony  was  so 
intense  that  he  scarcely  took  food  enough  to  sup- 
port nature,"  while  his  abstinence  was  fast  wearing 
him  away.  By  many  he  was  thought  to  be  de- 
ranged. "  Days,  and  weeks,  and  months  together, 
he  slept  in  the  woods,  crying  for  mercy."  The  Bible 
was  his  constant  companion.  He  attended  preach- 
ing when  within  his  reach ;  and  "  on  his  way  to 
church,  sitting  on  his  horse,  he  would  lift  his  hands 
toward  heaven,  and  pray  to  God  to  have  mercy  upon 
him." 

Endowed  with  a  poetic  talent,  during  his  depres- 
sion he  would  give  vent  to  his  feelings  of  anguish 
in  strains  of  melancholy  poetry,  that  would  touch 
any  heart.  He  continued  in  this  state  of  mind 
until  the  extraordinary  meeting  held  at  Desha's 
Creek,  in  1799,  by  John  McGee,  at  which  time  he 
was  reclaimed  from  his  backslidden  state. 

His  conversion  presented  a  "  scene  that  was  awful 
and  solemn  beyond  description.  It  drew  the  atten- 
tion of  hundreds  of  people  on  the  ground ;  and  the 
clergy  as  well  as  the  laity  were  struck  w^ith  wonder, 
while  they  witnessed  a  change,  the  like  of  which 
had  never  before  come  under  their  notice.  Heaven 
was  pictured  upon  the  face  of  the  happy  man,  and 


IN     KENTUCKY.  435 

Lis  language,  as  though  learned  in  a  new  world,  was 
apparently  superhuman.  He  spoke  of  angels  and 
archangels,  cherubim  and  seraphim,  and  dwelt  with 
rapture  upon  the  fullness  and  freeness  of  the  gospel 
of  Christ  for  the  salvation  of  a  lost  world."  * 

In  a  poem  written  by  himself,  commemorative  of 
this  event,  are  the  following  stanzas  : 

One  evening,  pensive  as  I  lay- 
Alone  upon  the  ground, 

As  I  to  God  began  to  pray, 
A  light  shone  all  around. 

Glory  to  God!  I  loudly  cried, 

My  sins  are  all  forgiven ; 
For  me,  for  me  the  Saviour  died — 

]\Iy  peace  is  made  with  Heaven.f 

From  the  time  of  his  conversion,  he  went  forth 
as  a  herald  of  the  cross.  Of  commanding  appear- 
ance, of  a  vivid  imagination,  and  familiar  wuth  the 
Bible,  everywhere  he  preached,  listening  and  anxious 
multitudes  crowded  around  him,  eager  to  catch  the 
words  of  life  as  they  fell  from  his  lips.  Success  at- 
tended his  ministry;  and  hundreds,  through  his  in- 
strumentality, were  brought  to  Christ. 

In  his  exuberant  zeal,  he  indulged  in  some  views 
that  caused  the  arrest  of  his  official  character  by 
the  Quarterly  Conference  over  which  Mr.  McKen- 
dree  presided,  and  his  suspension  from  the  ministry 
for  three  months,  yet  giving  him  permission  to  hold 
religious  meetings  and  exhort.  When  the  secretary 
of  the  Conference  read  to  him  the  decision  of  the 

*John  Carr,  in  Christian  Advocate,  February  19,  1857. 
f  Finley's  Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,  p.  291. 


436  METHODISM 

Conference,  he  exclaimed,  with  emphasis :  ''What! 
not  preach  for  three  months  ?  Stop  the  devil,"  he  said, 
"  for  three  months,  and  I  will  submit  to  your  de- 
cision." He  at  first  refused  to  give  up  his  license, 
but  being  told  that  he  might  exhort  during  this 
parenthesis,  he  yielded  to  the  decision. 

He  went  forth  from  that  Quarterly  Conference, 
and  during  the  three  months  of  his  suspension  from 
the  ministry,  as  an  exhorter  he  labored  with  an  en- 
ergy and  success  that,  tireless  and  useful  as  he  had 
previously  been,  had  not  distinguished  his  earlier 
efforts.  At  the  end  of  three  months,  his  license  was 
returned  to  him ;  and  in  the  autumn  of  1801,  he  was 
admitted  on  trial  into  the  Western  Conference,  and 
appointed  to  the  Green  Circuit,  in  East  Tennessee; 
in  1802,  to  the  Holston.  In  1803,  he  came  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  labored  on  the  Hinkstone  Circuit. 

During  the  short  period  of  his  connection  with 
the  Conference,  he  discharged  his  ministerial  obli- 
gations in  a  manner  that  defied  criticism.  Eloquent, 
bold,  energetic,  deeply  pious,  he  passed  through  the 
various  charges  to  which  he  was  appointed  like  a 
flaming  meteor ;  and  in  the  highways,  in  private 
families,  as  well  as  in  the  pulpit,  he  proclaimed  the 
Redeemer's  love.  If  he  portrayed  the  glories  of 
heaven,  his  audience  seemed  to  gaze  upon  the 
blessed  reality.  If  he  described  the  horrors  of  the 
lost,  one  seemed  to  stand  upon  the  fire-crested  bat- 
tlements of  hell,  and  hear  the  groans  of  the  damned. 
Revivals  blessed  his  labors  everywhere  ;  so  that  his 
memory  and  his  name  became  dear  to  the  hearts  of 
thousands. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  4d/ 

In  the  revivals  of  religion  so  common  at  this  pe- 
riod, the  Church  was  indebted  ^o  his  poetic  genius 
for  many  of  the  spiritual  songs  that  fanned  the 
sacred  flame. 

Entirely  broken  down  in  health,  at  the  close  of 
the  third  year  in  the  ministry,  he  located,  and  re- 
turned to  Middle  Tennessee,  only  able  to  speak  in 
a  low  tone  of  voice.  As  often  as  he  could,  he 
preached,  though  only  in  a  whisper,  yet  his  preach- 
ing Avas  attended  with  power.  He  settled  in  Wilson 
county,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  practice  of  med- 
icine. He  only  lived  a  few  years,  when  he  peace- 
fully passed  away. 

Although  the  labors  of  Learner  Blackman  were 
bestowed  chiefly  on  other  fields,  yet,  during  the  few 
years  he  traveled  in  Kentucky,  he  won  a  warm 
place  in  the  affections,  not  only  of  his  brethren  in 
the  ministry,  but  of  the  communities  in  which  he 
preached  the  gospel  of  Christ.  Among  the  early 
itinerants,  the  name  of  Learner  Blackman  will  al- 
ways be  cherished  for  his  abundant  labor,  and  for 
the  sacrifices  he  made  and  met,  as  well  as  for  his 
deep  devotion  to  the  Church,  for  the  sweetness  of 
his  temper,  the  purity  of  his  life,  and  the  success 
that  crowned  his  ministry. 

He  was  the  son  of  David  Blackman,  and  was  born 
in  Great  Egg  Harbor  township,  Gloucester  count}^ 
in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  on  the  19th  day  of  June, 
1781.  His  grandfather,  who  originally  emigrated 
from  one  of  the  IsTew  England  States  to  'New  Jersey, 
"had  a  great  partiality  for  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  was  probably  a  member  of  that  Communion." 


438  METHODISM 

His  father,  tbougli  not  a  member  of  any  Church, 
until  a  late  period  in  life,  when  he  joined  the  Meth- 
odist, threw  around  his  children  the  restraints  of 
morality.  The  neighborhood  in  which  David  Black- 
man  resided  was  visited,  in  the  spring  of  1797,  by 
his  son-in-law,  the  Eev.  John  Collins,  a  young 
Methodist  preacher.  From  ''  a  wicked  and  gay 
young  man,"  Mr.  Collins  had,  a  short  time  previous, 
been  converted  to  God,  and  ^'  with  his  soul  flaming 
with  religion,  came  into  the  neighborhood  in  which 
his  father-in-law  resided."  He  at  once  became  the 
chief  instrument  in  the  commencement  of  the  great 
revival  with  which  that  portion  of  New  Jersey  was 
blessed  at  this  period.  Among  the  man}^  who  were 
brought  to  Christ  through  his  instrumentality,  was 
the  family  into  which  he  had  married,  including 
Learner  Blackman,  then  in  the  sixteenth  year  of  his 
age.  In  referring  to  his  conversion,  he  says:  "I 
was  blind,  but  now  I  see ;  now  I  feel  the  love  of 
God ;  now  I  know  God  is  my  God,  Christ  is  my 
Saviour,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  is  my  Comforter,  and 
that  I  love  God.  I  love  his  people,  his  worship, 
his  ordinances,  and  his  word.  0  glorious  change, 
never  to  be  forgotten ! " 

In  the  Blackman  family,  among  those  who  resided 
at  home,  the  wife  and  mother  was  the  first  to  be- 
come connected  with  the  Church.  She  was,  how- 
ever, immediately  followed  by  her  eldest  unmarried 
daughter,  and,  in  a  few  weeks,  by  her  husband  and 
five  other  children.  Around  the  family  altar,  David 
Blackman,  "while  leading  in  the  devotions  the  third 
night  after  he  joined  the  Church,  and  the  lirst  time 


IN     KENTUCKV.  439 

he  attempted  to  pray  in  liis  family,  was  powerfully 
converted." 

The  family,  occupying  a  high  social  position,  and 
so  deepl}^  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  religion,  sent 
out  in  the  community  in  which  they  lived  a  sacred 
influence  that  was  felt  to  its  utmost  limits. 

Before  his  conversion  to  God,  and  even  from  his 
childhood,  3'oung  Blackman  had  a  strong  presenti- 
ment in  reference  to  the  ministry,  and  "  felt  a  desire 
to  become  a  preacher,  when  arrived  at  manhood." 
Kow,  how^ever,  divinely  called  to  assume  its  responsi- 
bilities, "more  timid  than  any  other  member  of 
the  family,"  he  shrank  from  the  duty,  until,  though 
strictly  observing  the  forms  of  religion,  he  lost  much 
of  its  enjoyment.  Faithfully  watched  over  by  Mr. 
Collins,  who  discovered  in  him  the  buddings  of 
promise  and  future  usefulness,  he  advised  him  ''to 
take  up  his  cross  and  speak  to  the  people."  In  the 
eighteenth  year  of  his  age,  he  was  licensed  to  ex- 
hort, and  before  he  was  nineteen,  to  preach,  and  re- 
commended to  the  Philadelphia  Conference,  held 
the  1st  day  of  June,  1800,  at  Duck  Cross  Eoads, 
"and  was  admitted  on  trial."* 

In  his  earlier  efforts  to  preach  the  gospel,  Mr. 
Collins  gave  no  signs  of  promise.  His  wife,  the 
first  of  her  father's  family  who  was  converted,  and 
had  joined  the  Church  at  the  same  time  with  her 
husband,  feeling  a  deep  solicitude  for  his  reputation, 
advised  him  to  desist,  stating  at  the  same  time  that 
he  could  never  succeed.     "  I  think  it  likely,  Sarah," 

*  From  a  manuscript  of  Learner  Blackman  in  possession  of  the  author. 


440  METHODISM 

was  his  candid  reply;  "but  though  I  may  never 
become  a  respectable  preacher  myself,  it  is  my 
purpose  to  continue  trying  until  I  am  instrumental 
in  the  conversion  of  some  one  who  will  make  a 
preacher."  In  the  evening  of  his  life,  he  related 
this  incident  to  Bishop  H.  H.  Kavanaugh,  and  added, 
with  much  satisfaction,  "It  was  not  long  before  I 
was  instrumental  in  the  conversion  of  Learner 
Blackman,  who  became  an  eminent  and  useful  min- 
ister of  Jesus  Christ." 

Mr.  Blackman's  first  appointment  was  to  the 
Kent  Circuit,  in  Maryland.  In  the  spring  of  1801, 
he  was  appointed  to  the  Dover  Circuit,  in  the  State 
of  Delaware ;  but  in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Western  Conference,  and  ap- 
pointed to  the  Russell  Circuit,  and  the  following 
year  to  the  ^ew  River,  both  in  Virginia.  At  the 
session  of  the  Western  Conference  for  1803,  he  first 
enters  Kentucky,  and  is  appointed  alone  to  the  Lex- 
ington Circuit.  In  Kentucky,  however,  he  remains 
but  one  year,  when,  "in  compliance  with  the  re- 
quest of  the  Bishops,  he  went  on  a  mission  to 
iSTatchez.  Here  a  new  scene  of  things  presented 
itself  to  his  view.  He  is  now  to  face  uncivilized 
natives,  and  a  wilderness  of  four  or  five  hundred 
miles.  After  a  journey  of  ten  or  eleven  days,  and 
lying  out  as  many  nights,  making  his  saddle-bags 
his  pillow,  his  blanket  and  cloak  his  bed,  the 
heavens  his  covering,  the  God  of  Israel  his  defense, 
he  arrived  safe  in  the  Territory."'^ 

*  General  Minutes  M.  E.  Church,  Vol.  I.,  p.  274. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  441 

In  1805  and  1806,  he  presided  over  the  Missis- 
sippi District,  having  for  his  associates  such  men  as 
Laslej  and  Bowman.  From  that  field  of  labor,  so 
unfriendly  to  the  constitution,  he  was  removed,  in 
1807,  to  the  Holston  District,  where  he  remained 
for  two  years. 

In  1809,  he  is  the  Presiding  Elder  on  the 
Cumberland  District,  embracing  all  of  West  Ten- 
nessee, Madison  county  in  the  Mississippi  Terri- 
tory, all  Kentucky  below  the  mouth  of  Green 
River,  and  the  counties  of  Ohio  and  Breckinridge 
above  Green  River,  extending  into  Tennessee  on 
the  w^aters  of  Elk  and  Duck  Rivers.  In  1810,  he 
was  reappointed  to  this  District,  which  this  year 
was  so  enlarged  as  to  "  include  the  St.  Yincennes 
Circuit,  in  the  Territory  of  Indiana." 

During  his  connection  with  this  District,  he  passes 
through  Louisville,  and  stops  with  "Brother  Bis- 
court,  and  preaches  to  one  hundred  persons  on  a 
very  cold  night  with  but  little  liberty."  And  then 
again  we  see  him  at  the  "  Red  Banks,  (Henderson,) 
preaching  to  fifty  persons,  at  the  court-house,"  and 
the  following  day  crossing  the  Ohio  and  penetrating 
the  Territory  of  Indiana. as  far  as  Yincennes  :  he  at- 
tended his  quarterly  meeting  at  Westfall's,  for  Yin- 
cennes Circuit,  where,  under  his  preaching,  the 
"  awful  power  of  God  came  down,  sinners  felt  a 
tremendous  shock,  and  cried  for  mercy  as  "  he  had 
"seldom  seen."  He  visits,  by  invitation,  the  Hon. 
"William  Henry  Harrison,  then  Governor  of  Indiana 
Territory,  preaches  at  the  seminary,  receives  every 
courtesy  at  the  hands  of  the  Governor,  and  pro- 


442  METHODISM 

nounces  him  the  best  unconverted  man  witli  whom 
he  had  met.  He  frequently  mentions  in  his  journal, 
as  persons  to  whose  fraternal  hospitality  and  kind- 
ness he  was  greatly  indebted,  the  names  of  Browder, 
Wall,  Phipps,  Stateler,  Vantress,  Stephens,  Groves, 
Bay  ley,  "White,  Tunstall,  Bibb,  Anient,  ITewton, 
Dixon,  and  Taylor. 

His  entire  diary  breathes  the  sentiments  of  one 
wholly  consecrated  to  God.  He  says :  "  This  morn- 
ing I  entered  into  the  following  resolution ':  to  ask 
myself  twelve  times  in  the  course  of  each  day  this 
important  question.  Am  I  prepared  to  die  ?  First, 
when  I  awake  in  the  morn ;  second,  third,  and 
fourth,  in  private  retirement  that  number  of  times 
before  private  devotion ;  fifth,  at  family  worship ; 
sixth,  when  I  arise  on  my  horse  to  travel  to  appoint- 
ments; seventh,  when  I  alight  ofi*iny  horse  at  meet- 
ing; eighth,  when  I  begin  to  preach;  ninth,  in 
class-meeting ;  tenth,  in  private  devotion ;  eleventh, 
at  family  prayer ;  twelfth,  w^hen  I  lie  down  to  rest 
at  night."  His  diary  indicates  the  faithful  observ- 
ance of  his  vow. 

Whenever  he  preached,  he  expected  immediate 
results ;  and  he  was  but  seldom  disappointed.  "  I 
am  alarmed,"  said  he,  "when  sinners  are  not  con- 
verted." ]N"o  danger  daunted  him,  no  privations 
were  shunned.  In  the  pulpit,  in  the  altar,  in  the 
social  and  family  circle,  everywhere,  he  was  the 
faithful  embassador  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  "  counted 
not  his  life  dear,"  if  he  could  be  instrumental  in 
the  accomplishment  of  good. 

Among  the  preachers  of  this  period,  there  was  no 


IN     KENTUCKY.  443 

one  who  showed  a  more  profound  devotion  to  the 
Church  than  Mr.  BLackman.  From  the  time  when, 
a  mere  youth,  he  entered  upon  his  ministerial  career 
on  the  Kent  Circuit,  until  his  eventful  and  useful 
life  was  closed,  he  labored  with  untiring  zeal,  and 
with  uncommon  success.  "We  regret  that  he  has 
left  us  no  journal  of  his  travels  previous  to  1809 ; 
hut  from  that  period  until  he  passed  away,  his  diary 
presents  to  us  evidences  of  ardent  piety,  unyielding 
energy,  and  unreserved  consecration  to  God. 

As  we  pass  over  his  journal,  we  pause  to  wonder 
at  the  extent  of  his  travels,  the  severity  of  his  suf- 
ferings, and  the  immenseness  of  his  labors. 

From  the  time  he  was  appointed  to  the  Cumber- 
land District  to  the  close  of  the  first  year,  he  tells  us 
in  his  journal  that  he  had  "rode  more  than  five 
thousand  miles,  preached  three  hundred  and  forty- 
one  sermons,  and  to  ninety-five  thousand  and  sev- 
enty-one persons,  though  to  some  of  this  number 
over  and  over  ao;ain." 

During  this  year,  not  forgetful  of  his  filial  obliga- 
tions, he  visits  the  home  of  his  childhood,  and  freely 
mino^les  ao;ain  in  the  old  familiar  household.  On 
his  w^ay  to  New  Jersey,  he  preaches  at  Scarborough, 
beyond  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  at  Blacksburg, 
in  Winchester,  Georgetown,  at  Washington  Citj^,  at 
the  ISTavy-yard,  at  Baltimore,  at  Wilmington,  and 
Philadelphia — making  the  journey  on  horseback, 
amid  the  snows  of  w^inter,  preaching  all  along  his 
route  to  congregations  varying  in  number  from  fif- 
teen to  two  thousand  persons,  and  witnessing  almost 
everywhere  rich  displays  of  Divine  power. 


444  METHODISM 

On  the  26tli  of  October,  1809,  we  find  him  in 
Russellville,  "  dining  at  a  tavern  "  where  he  "could 
scarcely  have  any  peace"  for  the  profanity  of  per- 
sons at  the  table;  and  the  following  day  we  see 
him  "lost  in  the  swamps  of  Muddy  Eiver,"  while 
on  his  "way  to  the  quarterly  meeting  on  the  Hart- 
ford Circuit."  The  quarterly  meeting  was  one  of 
thrilling  interest,  "a  sweet  time."  In  the  bounds 
of  this  circuit  he  stops  with  a  Mr.  Owen,  who  "  is  a 
remarkable  man,  professes  no  religion,  but  great  at- 
tachment to  the  Methodists,  and  does  as  much  for 
the  Church  as  any  member  in  the  settlement;"  and 
he  asks,  "Shall  he  lose  his  reward?"  Laboring 
side  by  side  with  Cartwright,  Kennerly,  Valentine 
Cook,  McGee,  and  others,  he  travels  through  the 
country,  over  roads  almost  impassable,  from  thirty 
to  forty  miles  per  day,  and  preaches  to  listening 
hundreds  "the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ."  The 
day  he  was  twenty-nine  years  old,  he  preached  at 
Eussellville — "  the  nursery  of  wickedness — in  the 
court-house,  to  sixteen  persons,  some  of  whose 
hearts  were  touched." 

In  1811,  he  was  appointed  to  the  Nashville  Dis- 
trict, over  which  he  presided  for  three  years.  On 
the  28th  of  December,  1812,  having  just  held  his 
quarterly  meeting  in  Franklin,  he  was  invited  to 
enter  the  army  as  a  chaplain  to  the  Tennessee  Vol- 
unteers, ordered  to  the  lower  country,  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Jackson.  After  prayerful  delib- 
eration, he  accepted  the  responsible  position. 

He  "embarked  with  Gen.  Jackson  on  the  10th 
of  eJanuary,  1813,  on  board  a  flat-bottom  boat,  and 


IN     KENTUCKY.  445 

in  it  descended  the  Cumberland  River."  During 
the  first  night,  he  "  preached  on  the  boat  to  a  few 
officers  and  soldiers."  Speaking  of  Gen.  Jackson, 
he  says,  "He  appeared  to  exert  all  his  power  to  pro- 
mote the  welfare  of  the  detachment.  In  very  many 
respects  he  is  well  qualified  to  make  a  great  general. 
He  treats  religious  characters  with  respect, 'and  re- 
ligion with  veneration."'''- 

In  less  than  three  months,  the  volunteers  were 
dismissed  by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  he 
was  permitted  to  return  to  his  District,  which  he 
reached  on  the  1st  day  of  April. 

During  the  brief  period  of  his  connection  with 
the  army,  he  "learned  many  lessons  of  usefulness," 
besides  having  the  privilege  of  preaching  to  the  sol- 
diers, and  watching  over  their  comfort,  as  became  a 
minister  of  Jesus  Christ. 

On  the  22d  of  the  following  June,  he  was  married 
to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Elliott,  of  Sumner  county,  Ten- 
nessee, a  young  widow  of  fine  intelligence  and  fer- 
vent piety. 

His  last  appointment  was  at  the  Conference  "of 
1814,  to  the  Cumberland  District,  which  embraced 
portions  of  Tennessee  and  Kentucky. 

On  the  11th  day  of  November,  he  entered  upon 
his  round  of  quarterly  meetings,  and  passing  through 
his  District  like  "a  flame  of  fire,"  success  crowned 
his  ministry  everywhere.  In  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee, his  quarterly  meetings  were  places  of  re- 
ligious feasts,  to  which  thousands  came  to  worship 

^'  Blackmail's  manuscript. 


446  METHODISM 

God.  With  the  same  zeal  that  had  distinguished 
him  ill  the  earlier  years  of  his  ministry,  he  prose- 
cuted his  "high  and  holy  calling,"  until  throughout 
his  District  he  was  hailed  as  a  harbinger  of  mercy. 
The  winter  had  passed  away  beneath  the  balmy  air 
of  spring,  and  spring,  too,  was  just  fading  into  sum- 
mer, when,  worn  down  by  constant  and  unremitting 
toil,  he,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  made  a  visit  to 
his  brother-in-law  and  sister,  the  Rev.  John  Collins 
and  his  wife.     He  never  returned  to  his  work. 

The  following  letter,  which  we  received  from  the 
Eev.  J.  F.  Wright,  of  the  Cincinnati  Conference, 
gives  the  sad  termination  of  his  useful  life : 

"  Learner  Blackman  was  drowned  in  the  Ohio 
River,  on  June  7th,  1815,  about  10  o'clock  in  the 
forenoon.  He  was  returning  from  a  visit  to  the 
Rev.  John  Collins  and  wife  (his  sister)  to  his  work 
in  Tennessee,  having  an  appointment  to  preach  in 
Cincinnati  on  Sunday,  June  5th.  He  tarried  in  the 
city  over  Sunday  and  Monday,  and  on  Tuesday,  in 
company  with  Mrs.  Blackman,  he  resumed  his  jour- 
ney on  horseback,  intending  to  return  to  Nashville 
by  way  of  Lexington.  He  entered  the  ferry-boat 
on  the  Ohio  River,  about  the  foot  of  Main  street, 
Cincinnati.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blackman  dismounted 
from  their  horses,  and  he  held  them  securely  by 
their  bridles.  On  putting  off  from  shore,  as  the 
boat  was  not  propelled  by  steam-power,  the  mana- 
gers of  the  vessel  hoisted  sail ;  and  the  turning  of 
the  canvas,  and  the  flapping  of  the  folds  with  the 
wind,  so  frightened  the  horses  that  they  suddenlj^ 
leaped   overboard,   dragging   Mr.   Blackman   with 


IN     KENTUCKY.  447 

them.  In  their  straggling  in  the  water,  they 
dragged  him  under;  and  before  any  assistance  could 
be  rendered,  he  sank  to  the  bottom.  Mrs.  Black- 
man,  distracted  and  beside  herself  with  grief,  could 
with  difficulty  be  prevented  from  plunging  in  after 
him.  Alarm  was  instantly  given,  and  efforts  made 
to  recover  the  body ;  but  it  was  not  till  after  the 
lapse  of  some  hours  that  it  was  drawn  from  the 
water. 

"  The  funeral  obsequies  were  attended  to  at  the 
'Old  Stone  Church/  now  "Wesley  Chapel,  in  Cin- 
cinnati. A  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Oliver 
M.  Spencer,  a  local  preacher;  after  which,  the  re- 
mains were  interred  in  the  little  burying-ground  in 
the  rear  of  the  chapel.  Here  the  dust  now  reposes. 
A  simple  sandstone  slab  was  erected  at  the  head  of 
the  grave,  but  the  frosts  and  heat  of  fifty  years  have 
effaced  the  inscription,  leaving  only  the  name  barely 
legible." 

From  a  letter  received  from  Mr.  Edward  Sargent, 
of  Cincinnati,  dated  March  24,  1868,  we  take  the 
following  extract : 

"  There  is  one  circumstance  connected  with  Mr. 
Blackman's  death  which  I  heard  from  my  father-in- 
law,  who  resided  here  at  that  time,  and  which  my 
mother-in-law,  who  is  still  living,  (aged  eighty-six,) 
distinctly  recollects.  It  is  this  :  That  after  Brother 
Blackman  had  been  in  the  water  a  short  time,  at 
two  different  times  he  rose  to  the  surface,  two  boats 
went  out  from  this  shore  to  his  assistance,  but  an 
oar  of  each  boat  was  broken  before  they  reached 
him,  rendering  them  powerless  for  aid.     It  would 


448  METHODISM 

seem  he  was  not  to  be  saved  in  that  way.  This  item 
is  reliable.'' 

To  us,  the  Providence  is  mj'sterious  that  deprives 
the  Church  of  the  labors  of  so  devoted  and  useful  a 
minister  as  was  Learner  Blackman. 

At  the  early  age  of  twenty-four,  he  was  elevated 
to  the  responsible  office  of  Presiding  Elder.  En- 
dowed with  executive  talents  of  a  high  order,  he 
discharged  the  duties  of  the  office  not  only  with 
ability,  but  to  the  satisfaction  of  both  the  ministry 
and  the  laity  in  the  several  Districts  over  which  he 
presided. 

Enjoying  in  the  highest  degree  the  confidence  of 
his  brethren  in  the  Conference,  he  stood  at  the 
head  *  of  the  list  of  the  representatives  of  the  West- 
ern Conference  in  the  General  Conference  of  1812, 
the  first  delegated  General  Conference  held  by  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  personal  appearance  ^'he  was  commanding  and 
attractive — nearly  six  feet  high,  and  remarkably 
straight.  In  the  pulpit  he  stood  erect,  while  his 
address  was  most  pleasing.  Ilis  voice  was  soft  and 
agreeable,  and  its  modulations  in  exact  accordance 
with  nature."  In  every  department  of  his  work  he 
excelled.  If  he  preached  upon  the  duties  of  Chris- 
tianity, he  impressed  upon  his  hearers  the  paramount 
importance  of  a  holy  life.  If  he  presented  the  great 
doctrines  of  the  Bible,  he  handled  error  with  a  giant 
grasp.  Frequently  he  bore  down  every  thing  before 
him.      Inspired   often   with   the    grandeur   of   his 

*  Journal  General  Conference,  Vol.  I.,  p.  97. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  449 

theme,  he  arose  to  the  loftiest  heights  of  oratory, 
and  in  words  of  burning  eloquence  portrayed  the 
"  exceeding  sinfulness  of  sin,"  and  the  fearful  doom 
of  the  ungodly;  and  then  "dipping  his  pencil  in  liv- 
ing light,"  he  would  "paint  the  agonies  that  Jesus 
bore"  on  Calvary,  while  the  hundreds  who  sat  be- 
fore him  would  be  melted  to  tenderness  and  tears. 

The  increase  in  the  membership  for  this  year  was 
eleven  hundred  and  thirty-five,  which  greatly  exceeded 
that  of  any  year  before. 

In  1804,  commencing  October  2d,  the  Western 
Conference  again  met  at  Mount  Gerizim,  the  same 
place  at  which  it  was  held  the  previous  year.  ITo 
Bishop  being  present,  the  Eev.  William  McKendree, 
the  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Kentucky  District,  was 
elected  to  preside  over  the  deliberations  of  the 
body. 

Joshua  Eiggin,  Edmund  Wilcox,  Abdel  Coleman, 
William  J.  Thompson,  Joshua  Barnes,  James  Axley, 
Peter  Cartwright,  Benjamin  Edge,  Miles  Harper, 
and  Samuel  Parker,  were  this  year  admitted  on  trial. 
The  names,  also,  of  George  Askins  and  Asa  Shinn 
appear  in  the  Appointments  in  Kentucky. 

Abdel  Coleman  and  Joshua  Barnes  traveled  only 
one  year ;  Joshua  Biggin  and  William  J.  Thompson 
located  at  the  close  of  their  second  year's  labor. 
At  a  later  period,  however,  we  find  William  J. 
Thompson  in  the  Ohio  Conference;  but  he  located 
in  1831.  Edmund  Wilcox  also  retired  at  the  close 
of  the  first  year,  but  was  readmitted  in  1807,  and 
traveled  successively  the  Maramack  and  Fleming 
Circuits,  and  located  at  the  Conference  of  1809. 

VOL.  I. — 15 


450  METHODISM 

James  Axley,  "droll,  witty,  argumentative,  and 
sometimes  powerful,"  and  Peter  Cartwriglit,  bold, 
fearless,  and  eccentric,  entered  the  itinerant  ministry 
this  year.  Their  labors,  however,  more  properly 
identify  them  with  the  history  of  Methodism  in  Ken- 
tucky at  a  later  period,  where  we  shall  find  them. 

Asa  Shinn  traveled  four  years  before  he  came  to 
Kentucky.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1800,  and 
appointed  to  the  Eed  Stone,  and  in  1801,  to  Shc- 
nango  Circuit,  in  the  Baltimore  Conference ;  in 
1802,  to  the  Hockhocking,  and  in  1803,  to  the  Guy- 
andotte  in  the  Western  Conference.  In  1804,  he 
had  charge  of  the  Wayne,  and  in  1805,  of  the  Salt 
River  Circuits.  "With  this  year,  his  labors  as  an 
itinerant  closed  in  Kentucky.  During  the  two 
years  in  which  he  had  charge  of  the  Wayne  and 
Salt  Eiver  Circuits,  he  was  distinguished  for  his 
ardent  zeal,  his  great  success,  and  his  fervent  piety. 
We  part  with  him  here  for  the  present,  but  shall 
meet  him  again,  when  in  the  full  strength  of  a  ma- 
tured intellect,  he  occupies  prominent  positions  in 
the  Church. 

Benjamin  Edge  was  among  the  most  zealous  and 
indefatigable  preachers  to  be  found  in  the  West  at 
this  period.  We,  however,  take  leave  of  him  for 
the  present,  but  will  meet  him  again  in  1810. 

Miles  Harper  was  also  admitted  this  year.  He 
labored  in  Kentucky  only  two  years,  the  first  on  the 
Red  River,  and  the  second  on  the  Lexington  Circuit; 
after  which,  he  was  absent  from  the  State  for  two 
years ;  but  in  the  autumn  of  1808,  he  presides  over 
the  Cumberland  District,  embracing  within  its  ter- 


IN     KENTUCKY.  451 

ritory  the  Red  River,  Barren,  Livingston,  and  Hart- 
ford Circuits.  In  this  field  we  shall  again  see  him, 
lifting  "the  consecrated  cross,"  as  a  successful 
evangelist. 

George  Askins  came  to  the  West  in  1804.  For 
four  years  he  had  been  an  itinerant,  preaching  on 
the  Montgomery,  Ohio,  Shenango,  and  Muskingum 
and  Little  Kanawha  Circuits.  His  first  appointment 
in  Kentucky  was  to  the  Limestone  Circuit;  his 
second,  the  Hinkstone.  In  1806,  he  was  sent  to  the 
Lexington,  and  the  following  year,  to  the  Danville  ; 
and  in  1808,  he  had  charge  of  the  Shelby,  on  whicli 
he  closed  his  labors  in  Kentucky. 

In  1809,  he  was  appointed  to  the  Scioto  Circuit ; 
and  in  the  spring  of  1810,  transferred  to  the  Balti- 
more Conference,  where  he  continued  a  faithful 
evangelist  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

The  Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper,  in  his  "Autumn 
Leaves,"  in  speaking  of  Mr.  Askins,  says: 

"George  Askins  was  another  one  of  the  early 
preachers  in  this  country,  although  he  was  a  native 
of  Ireland.  I  am  not  able  to  say  when  he  came  to 
the  United  States,  but  he  joined  our  traveling  con- 
nection in  1801,*  and  spent  the  greater  part  of  his 
ministerial  life  in  the  West.  He  was  a  man  of 
small  stature,  and  a  cripple,  one  of  his  legs  being 
withered  up  to  the  hip ;  yet  he  was  more  active  on 
foot  than  any  cripple  I  ever  saw.  Notwithstanding 
this  bodily  infirmity,  he  w^as  full  of  spirit,  and  a 

*Mr.  Stamper  follo^Ys  the  General  Minutes ;  but  Mr.  Askins  joined 
the  traveling  connection  in  1800. 


452  METHODISM 

stranofer  to  fear.  I^o  threats  could  deter  him  from 
speaking  his  sentiments,  no  matter  who  might  hear 
them,  and  he  would  reprove  sin  wherever  or  b}^ 
whomsoever  committed.  In  doing  this,  he  often 
gave  great  offense,  and  on  one  or  two  occasions  suf- 
fered personal  injury.  He  was  a  great  stickler  for 
the  peculiarities  of  Methodism,  and  used  to  say  that 
class  and  love-feast  meetings  were  green  pastures 
beside  the  still  waters.  I  remember  when  I  w^as  a 
boy  to  have  gone  with  my  mother  to  class-meetings 
held  by  him,  and  received  impressions  under  his 
admonitions  which  were  never  erased  from  my 
mind,  and,  I  have  no  doubt,  had  a  salutary  influence 
on  my  after  life. 

"Askins  was  a  good  preacher  because  he  preached 
a  pure  gospel  in  the  power  and  demonstration  of 
the  Spirit.  He  was  fond  of  combating  the  various 
doctrines  opposed  to  Methodism,  and  managed  his 
subjects  with  considerable  adroitness,  although  he 
was  sometimes  a.  little  too  severe,  especially  when 
pursued  by  an  opponent.  He  was  an  impassioned 
and  often  eloquent  orator,  and  I  have  seen  whole 
congregations  stand  aghast  while  he  was  descanting 
upon  the  punishment  of  the  wicked.  A  certain 
man,  after  hearing  him  upon  one  occasion,  said,  '  I 
do  not  like  to  hear  Askins :  he  makes  me  feel  as  if 
I  was  in  the  very  suburbs  of  hell ;  and  that  is  a  po- 
sition I  do  not  like  to  occupy.'  From  those  har- 
rowing descriptions  of  torment,  he  often  passed  to 
an  eloquent  discourse  on  the  joys  and  triumphs  of 
heaven,  growing  more  and  more  rapt  until  he  and 
his  audience  together  broke  forth  into  the  joyous 


IN     KENTUCKY.  453 

exclamation,  ^Ilallelujali !  The  Lord  God  Omnipo- 
tent reigneth!'"'^ 

During  the  five  years  of  his  connection  with  the 
work  in  Kentucky,  by  his  constant  and  assiduous 
labors,  he  made  good  proof  of  his  ministry.  Ke- 
gardless  of  the  toil  and  sacrifice  incident  to  his 
*'high  and  holy  calling,"  he  cultivated  the  fields 
assigned  him  with  the  utmost  care,  and  saw,  wher- 
ever he  labored,  the  most  happy  results. 

In  the  Baltimore  Conference  he  traveled  the  Bot- 
tetourt,  Staunton,  Berkeley,  Chambersburg,  and 
Frederick  Circuits.  The  Frederick  was  the  last  to 
which  he  was  appointed. 

"His  last  discourse  was  delivered  on  Sabbath 
evening,  the  18th  of  February,  1816,  in  Frederick- 
town,  to  a  large  congregation,  with  more  than  usual 
zeal  and  acceptability,  when  an  inflammatory  fever 
immediately  ensued,  which  he  bore  with  great  pa- 
tience and  resignation  to  the  will  of  Heaven. 

"  On  the  evening  of  the  26th,  he  had  a  severe  con- 
flict with  the  enemy  of  his  soul ;  but  was  enabled 
to  declare  that  God  had  delivered  him,  and  imme- 
diately commenced  singing.  Glory  !  glory !  glory ! 
hallelujah! 

"  The  evening  preceding  his  death,  his  afflicted 
companion  asked  him,  '  My  dear,  are  you  going  to 
leave  us?'  To  which  he  replied,  ^ Leave  that  to 
the  Lord — if  I  go,  I  shall  go  happy.'  A  few  min- 
utes before  his  departure,  he  saw  his  affectionate  wife 
kneeling  by  the  bed,  and  asked  her  if  she  was  will- 

*Rev.  Jonathan  Stamper,  in  Home  Circle,  Vol.  Ill,,  pp.  213,  214. 


454  METHODISM 

iug  to  let  him  go :  she  replied,  '  That  is  hard  to 
say,  but  I  desire  to  be  resigned  to  the  will  of  God.' 
He  answered,  '  That  is  right,'  and  took  his  leave 
of  her.  During  his  illness,  he  continually  gave  him- 
self up  to  his  God  in  prayer,  frequently  calling  upon 
the  surrounding  friends  to  sing  and  pray,  express- 
ing an  unshaken  confidence  in  God,  and  a  desire 
to  depart  and  be  with  Christ,  and  even  to  his  last 
moments  would  raise  his  hands  and  praise  God. 

"  He  retained  his  senses  to  the  last,  and  about  ten 
minutes  before  his  exit,  asked  his  Christian  friends 
to  sing,  '  0  glorious  hope  of  perfect  love.'  Some 
of  his  last  words  were,  '  The  Lord  our  God  is  7ny 
God ;'  ^  0  what  a  beautiful  prospect  lies  before  me !' 
*  Holiness  is  the  way  to  heaven;'  'Be  ye  clean  that 
bear  the  vessels  of  the  Lord — get  all  you  can  in  the 
way  to  heaven — my  God  is  mine  and  I  am  his — I 
have  been  in  the  dark  mountains,  but  King  Jesus 
has  given  me  complete  victory — glory,  honor,  praise, 
and  power  be  to  God!' 

"  He  died  on  Wednesday  morning,  about  four 
o'clock,  the  28th  of  February,  1816,  in  the  triumphs 
of  faith,  and  with  a  hope  full  of  glorious  immor- 
tality."* 

Samuel  Parker,  who  was  this  year  admitted  on 
trial  in  the  Western  Conference,  and  appointed  to 
the  Hinkstone  Circuit,  was  among  the  most  devoted 
and  useful  of  the  preachers  of  his  da}^,  and  soon 
rose  to  eminence  in  the  Church.  His  labors  in 
Kentucky,  however,  belong  more  properly  to  a  later 

*  General  Minutes  M.  E.  Church,  Vol.  I.,  pp.  277,  278. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  455 

period.  In  1814,  we  shall  meet  him  ou  the  Ken- 
tucky District,  ^'a  burning  and  a  shining  light." 

We  record  this  year  the  death  of  Wilson  Lee. 
Prostrated  in  health,  he  had  left  Kentucky  in  1793, 
after  contributing  so  largely  to  the  planting  and  the 
formation  of  the  character  of  the  infant  Church  in 
the  West.  He  returned  to  the  Baltimore  Confer- 
ence, with  which  he  had  previously  been  identified, 
and  remained  to  the  close  of  his  useful  life.  With 
the  exception  of  two  years — one  of  which  he  was 
supernumerary  on  the  Montgomery  Circuit,  and  the 
other,  which  was  his  last,  superannuated — he  had 
been  an  effective  laborer.  Worn  down  in  health,  to 
the  very  last,  "  his  zeal  for  the  Lord  would  urge  him 
ou  to  surprising  constancy  and  great  labors."  The 
labors  on  the  Baltimore  District,  on  which  he  per- 
formed his  last  work  as  an  effective  preacher,  while 
not  more  than  equal  to  his  zeal,  far  surpassed  his 
strength,  and  did  much  to  hasten  his  death. 

In  April,  1804,  he  was  taken,  while  in  prayer  with 
a  sick  person,  with  a  heavy  discharge  of  blood  from 
his  lungs.  At  his  death,  a  blood-vessel  of  some 
magnitude  was  supposed  to  break ;  so  that  he  was 
in  a  manner  suffocated  with  his  own  blood  in  a  few 
minutes.  He  died  at  Walter  Worthington's,  Anne 
Arundel  county,  Maryland,  October  4,  1804."  * 

However  gratifying  to  catch  the  last  words  of 
such  a  man,  as  he  enters  the  river,  or  to  listen  to 
the  notes  of  triumph  falling  from  his  dying  lips  as 
he  obtains  a  glimpse,  for  the  first  time,  of  his  heav- 

"  General  Minutes,  Vol.  I.,  p.  128. 


456  METHODISM 

enly  inheritance,  yet  we  need  not  these  to  assure  us 
of  his  entrance  into  rest. 

The  Livingston  Circuit,  which  had  been  formed 
in  1803,  under  the  indefatigable  labors  of  Jesse 
Walker,  had  so  extended  its  boundaries  previous  to 
the  Conference  of  1804  as  to  embrace  the  counties 
of  Henderson  and  Ohio. 

In  the  Minutes  of  1804,  the  work  in  this  depart- 
ment is  recognized  under  the  style  of  "  Livingston 
and  Hartford,"  to  which  Jesse  Walker  and  Joshua 
Barnes  were  appointed. 

Previous  to  the  Conference  of  1804,  a  quarterly 
meeting  was  held  at  Isham  Browder's,  in  Hopkins 
(then  Henderson)  county,  embracing  the  17th  and 
18th  days  of  August,  at  which  the  following  official 
members  were  present:  Lewis  Garrett,  Presiding 
Elder;  Jesse  Walker,  Assistant  Preacher;  Miles 
Harper,  Joshua  Barnes,  Thomas  Taylor,  James 
Axley,  Wiley  Ledbetter,  Josiah  Moors,  John  Travis, 
Benjamin  Parker,  Taylor  White,  Isham  Browder, 
Pleasant  Axley,  Moses  Shelby. 

At  this  Quarterly  Conference,  James  Axley  and 
Joshua  Barnes  were  "recommended  to  travel." 

Before  Mr.  Walker  had  embraced  Ohio  county  in 
the  Livingston  Circuit,  under  the  efficient  labors  of 
a  few  local  preachers,  societies  had  been  formed  at 
Goshen,  Bethel,  and  No  Creek,  in  that  county. 

"The  first  Church  organized  in  Ohio  county  was 
at  Goshen,  two  miles  south  of  Hartford,  in  the  year 
1804.  Very  shortly  after  this,  in  the  same  year, 
another  Church  was  organized  at  Bethel,  seven 
miles  north-east  of  Hartford.     Next,  and  about  the 


IN    KENTUCKY.  457 

same  time,  in  the  same  year,  Ko  Creek  Churcli  was 
organized. 

"  These  Churches  were  established  as  the  result 
of  a  great  revival  which  took  place  in  December, 
1803,  commenced  by  the  Presbyterians,  in  connec- 
tion with  two  or  three  local  preachers,  who  had  set- 
tled in  this  part  of  the  country. 

"  The  first  and  leading  local  preacher  connected 
with  this  work  was  Thomas  Taylor,  a  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  ability  and  decisive  character;  and, 
through  his  influence,  the  masses  of  the  converts 
were  led  into  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

"Associated  with  him  was  Lodwick  Davis,  also  a 
man  of  good  preaching  ability ;  also  Joshua  Barnes, 
of  ordinary  talents. 

"  During  the  Conference-year  commencing  in  the 
fall  of  1804,  this  circuit  was  blessed  with  extensive 
revivals  of  religion.  They  swept,  like  fire  in  dry 
stubble,  all  over  the  country.  The  people  went 
from  far  and  near  to  attend  them — were  awakened, 
and  converted  to  God."  * 

These  early  societies  were  a  nucleus,  from  which 
went  out  a  fine  religious  influence  into  all  the  sur- 
rounding country.  From  the  time  of  their  first 
organization  to  the  present,  they  have  prospered, 
being  the  scenes  of  many  revivals  of  religion. f 


*  Letter  from  the  Rev.  H.  C.  McQuown,  of  Hartford,  Kentucky. 

f  The  society  at  Goshen  now  worships  in  a  neat  and  commodious 
frame  church,  numbers  nearly  eigJity  members,  and  enjoys  an  average 
degree  of  spirituality.  The  society  at  Bethel  enjoyed  a  fine  revival 
of  religion  last  spring,  in  which  thirty-five  were  converted,  and  thirty- 
eight  added  to  the  Church.     Class-meetings  are  kept  up  by  them. 


458  METHODISM 

During  this  year,  Mr.  "Walker  entered  Ereckiii- 
ridge  county,  and  organized  a  society  at  Thomas 
Stith's,  on  the  road  from  Hardinsburg  to  Louisyille,, 
sixteen  miles  from  the  former  place.  The  names 
of  the  members  who  composed  this  society  were : 
Thomas  and  Ehoda  Stith,  William  and  Kancy  Stith, 
Eichard  and  Betsey  Stith,  Matthew  Sanders,  Mrs. 
Jordan  and  her  two  daughters,  (Lucy  and  Katy,) 
Little  Dick  Stith  and  his  wife,  and  Betsey  Hard- 
away — thirteen  members. 

"A  few  years  afterward,  Stith's  Meeting-house,  a 
log  church,  was  built,  at  an  obscure  point,  four  miles 
west  of  Big  Spring.  The  first  camp-meeting  in 
this  county  was  held  on  Sugar-tree  Run,  sixty  years 
ago,  under  the  supervision  of  John  Craig."  * 

Li  this  community  Methodism  has  always  pros- 
pered, and  at  the  present  period  presents  one  of  the 
most  interestino;  fields  in  the  State. 


They  have  a  neat  frame  house  of  worship.  The  society  at  No  Creek, 
three  miles  north  of  Hartford,  had  a  good  revival  in  January.  Its 
fruits  were  thirteen  conversions  and  twenty-one  additions.  It  num- 
bers now  about  ninety.  They  have  a  new,  large,  frame  church — the 
best  in  the  country — and  keep  up  class-meetings.  There  is  also  a 
society  ten  miles  north-east  of  Hartford,  (time  organized  not  known.) 
They  have  a  large  frame  church,  one  hundred  and  sixteen  members, 
and  enjoy  an  average  degree  of  spirituality.  A  society,  seven  miles 
east  of  Hartford,  with  tiocnty-nine  members,  in  good  condition.  They 
have  a  new  frame  church.  Six  miles  north-east  of  Hartford  is  the 
Union  society,  numbering  twenty-eight.  They  worship  in  a  log 
house.  In  Hartford  the  society  numbers  sixty-five. — Letter  to  the 
author  from  the  licv.  IT.  C.  IfcQuoivn,  dated  Hartford,  Kentucky, 
January  23,  1867. 

*  Letter  from  the  Rev.  H.  C.  Settle  to  the  author,  dated  Big  Spring, 
Kentuckv,  June  11, 1867. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  459 

The  original  thirteen  members  were  burning  and 
shining  lights.  Without  a  single  exception,  they 
all  died  in  holy  triumph.  The  last  of  the  number, 
Katy  Jordan,  (lirst  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  W.  F.  King, 
and,  after  his  death,  of  the  Rev.  Pleasant  Alverson, 
both  itinerant  ministers  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,)  survived  the  others,  having  died  in  hope 
of  eternal  life,  in  Breckinridge  county,  in  1867. 

The  most  of  them  were  remarkable  for  their  zeal, 
but  none  more  so  than  William  and  Nancy  Stith. 
Mrs.  Stith,  before  her  conversion,  had  been  fond  of 
the  gayeties  and  amusements  of  the  world ;  and 
when  she  embraced  religion,  she  was  equally  zeal- 
ous as  a  Christian.  At  home,  in  the  family  circle, 
as  well  as  in  her  private  devotions,  she  frequently 
praised  God  aloud.  In  the  house  of  God  her 
feelings  often  overcame  her,  and  she  shouted  his 
praises. 

On  one  occasion,  the  minister,  interrupted  by  her 
shouts,  requested  her,  in  a  private  interview,  to  re- 
strain her  feelings  until  he  should  close  his  sermon. 
Unwilling  to  be  a  source  of  annoyance  to  any  one, 
the  old  saint  readily  promised,  and  requested  him, 
if  he  should  observe  any  signs  on  her  part  of  an 
i-ntention  to  shout,  to  wink  at  her,  and  she  would 
repress  her  feelings.  At  the  first  meeting  after  this 
interview,  he  thought  he  discovered  indications  of 
her  purpose  to  shout,  and  he  gave  the  promised 
wink.  In  a  moment  she  was  calm,  but  it  was  only 
for  a  moment.  He  winked  again,  and  again  her 
feelings  were  subdued.  Once  more  her  counte- 
nance, beaming  with  joy,  told  too  plainly  of  the 


460  METHODISM 

peut-up  emotions  struggling  to  be  free ;  and  once 
more  the  preacher  winked,  but  it  was  in  vain.  She 
arose  from  her  seat,  exclaiming,  "Brother,  you  may 
wink,  and  you  may  blink,  as  much  as  you  please, 
but  I  must  shout!"  Her  end  was  joyous  and  tri- 
umphant. 

We  have  already  referred  to  Thomas  Taylor,*  a 
local  preacher,  to  whose  influence  and  labors  the 
Church  in  Ohio  and  the  surrounding  counties  was 
so  much  indebted  for  the  organization  of  the  early 
societies.  He  was  born  in  Frederick  county,  Vir- 
ginia, February  26,  1763.  His  parents  were  poor, 
but  of  high  respectability,  and  bequeathed  to  him 
the  legacy  of  a  pure  and  unsullied  character.  His 
father  and  mother  were  reared  in  the  Church  of 
England,  and  endeavored  to  instill  into  their  chil- 
dren the  principles  of  Christianity.  Independent  in 
thought  from  early  childhood,  he  became  impressed 
with  the  excellency  of  Methodism,  and  at  twelve 
years  of  age  he  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  and 
when  quite  young  became  a  local  preacher. 

In  1802,  with  his  small  family,  he  came  to  the 
West,  and  was  among  the  first  to  raise  the  standard 
of  Methodism  in  the  Green  River  country. 

Among  the  early  local  preachers  in  Kentucky,  for 
his  untiring  devotion  to  the  Church,  he  was  not 
surpassed.  The  opposition  to  Christianity,  so  com- 
mon among  the  early  settlers  in  the  State,  so  far 
from  arresting  his  efforts  to  accomplish  good,  was 


*  He  was  the  father  of  the  Hon.  Harrison  J.  Taj^lor,  of  Hartford, 
Kentucky. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  461 

to  him  only  an  incentive  to  extraordinary  exertion. 
The  country  being  destitute  of  ministers,  Mr.  Tay- 
lor traveled  extensively,  having  appointments  at 
distances  remote  from  his  home,  in  the  territory 
now  embraced  in  Henderson,  Hopkins,  Muhlenburg, 
Butler,  Grayson,  Hardin,  Larue,  Hancock,  Daviess, 
and  McLean  counties. 

To  promote  the  welfare  of  the  Church,  and  to 
advance  its  interests,  was  one  of  the  highest  aims 
of  his  noble  life.  Without  the  advantages  of  early 
education,  by  close  application  to  study  he  so  far 
improved  his  mind  as  to  become  one  of  the  most 
popular  and  influential  preachers  in  the  Green  River 
country. 

Thoroughly  versed  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  his 
vindication  of  the  doctrines  of  Methodism  was 
resistless,  while,  "with  words  that  burn,"  he  im- 
pressed the  practical  duties  of  religion  on  the  minds 
of  the  hundreds  who  heard  the  gospel  from  his  lips. 
Without  appealing  to  the  passions  of  the  people,  he 
stirred  the  depths  of  their  hearts.  Usually  plain, 
yet  argumentative,  he  sometimes  "  arose  with  his 
subject,  and,  giving  utterance  to  his  own  feelings, 
he  would  dwell  on  the  beauties  of  religion,  the  sub- 
limity of  the  Divine  attributes,  the  deep  and  dying 
love  of  the  Saviour,  and  the  horrors  of  the  day  of 
retribution,  when  justice  shall  be  meted  out.  On 
occasions  of  this  kind,  his  language  would  flow  with 
that  deep,  intense,  native  sublimity,  which  no  art 
or  study  can  equal."  * 

*  Letter  to  the  author  from  Mr.  H.  J.  Taylor. 


462  METHODISM 

Inflexible  in  liis  purposes,  and  uncompromisingly 
opposed  to  sin,  he  exposed  its  hideousness,  in  what- 
ever shape  it  assumed,  and  in  whatever  circle  it 
moved.  Influenced  only  by  the  purest  motives,  and 
possessing  sterling  integrity,  he  made  no  allowance 
for  the  aberrations  of  others,  but,  unmasking  vice  in 
the  varied  walks  of  life,  he  administered  the  most 
scathing  rebukes,  taking  the  Bible  as  the  great 
stand-point  from  whence  he  defended  the  doctrines 
of  his  Church ;  as,  in  his  life,  he  aimed  to  be  gov- 
erned by  its  holy  precepts. 

"When  more  than  seventy  years  of  age,  and  only 
two  years  before  his  death,  he  changed  his  Church- 
relations,  entering  as  a  minister  the  Methodist  Prot- 
estant Church.  This  involved  no  chan2:e  in  doc- 
trines,  yet  it  would  be  gratifying  to  us,  if  he  had 
remained  to  the  close  of  life  in  the  Church  he  had 
labored  so  faithfully  to  plant  and  build  up. 

On  the  25th  day  of  April,  1836,  he  departed  this 
life,  at  his  own  home,  in  Ohio  county,  Kentucky,  in 
full  assurance  of  a  blessed  immortality. 

To  no  one  man  is  Ohio  countj^  so  much  indebted 
for  the  moral  and  religious  influence  they  now  enjoy, 
as  to  Thomas  Taylor. 

Ilis  wife,  Margaret  Taylor,  wdio  had  borne  with 
her  husband  the  privations  and  sacrifices  of  pioneer 
life,  and  had  stood  side  by  side  with  him  in  the 
great  battle  for  religious  truth,  survived  him  nearly 
twenty  years.  She  belonged  to  the  representative 
women  of  Methodism  in  Kentucky.  After  a  long 
life  of  usefulness,  on  the  25th  of  October,  1855,  she 
closed  her  eyes  in  death. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  463 

We  make  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  we 
received  from  her  son,  Judge  Taylor,  of  Hartford, 
Kentucky : 

"  My  mother  retained  her  membership  in  the  old 
Church  until  her  death.  I  well  recollect  her  con- 
sulting with  me  as  to  her  course,  and  after  she  had 
summed  up,  I  was  more  than  ever  convinced  of  the 
propriety  of  her  course,  and  so  was  every  other  per- 
son, even  my  father. 

"From  that  day,  however,  she  might  have  been 
classed  as  a  member  of  each.  Her  house,  her  heart, 
and  her  purse  were  alike  open  to  all.  The  members 
of  the  old  Church  loved  her  more  than  ever  for  re- 
maining with  them,  while  the  Protestant  Methodist 
revered  and  respected  her  for  her  firmness  and  de- 
cision of  character." 

The  Licking  Circuit  appears  on  the  Minutes  this 
year,  for  the  first  time.  It  had  been  detached  from 
the  Limestone  Circuit,  and  embraced  in  its  territory 
the  village  of  I^Tewport,  and  had  for  its  first  preacher 
Benjamin  Edge.  On  the  10th  of  September,  1805, 
we  have  the  following  record  in  Bishop  Asbury's 
Journal:  "ISText  day  I  called  on  Elijah  Sparks,  at 
Newport,  and  baptized  two  of  his  children.  We 
^dined  with  the  widow  Stephens.  I  rejoiced  to  find 
that  a  new  circuit  had  been  formed,  and  there  were 
several  growing  societies.  Much  of  this  has  been 
efiected  by  the  faithful  labors  of  Benjamin  Edge." 

Although  the  increase,  as  reported  in  the  Min- 
utes for  this  year,  was  considerably  less  than  the 
year  previous,  yet  all  the  circuits  had  been  blessed 
with   precious   revivals   of  religion,  and   in  every 


464  METHODISM 

charge  there  was  an  increase,  except  the  Hartford, 
the  Limestone,  and  the  Salt  River  and  Shelby  Cir- 
cuits. The  decrease  in  the  Limestone  may  be  ac- 
counted for  by  the  formation  of  the  Licking  Circuit. 
The  total  increase  was  three  hundred  and  sixty-three. 

The  Western  Conference  for  1805  was  held  at 
Griffith's,  in  Scott  county,  Kentucky,  commencing 
October  2.  Bishop  Asbury  was  present,  accompa- 
nied by  Bishop  Whatcoat.     He  says : 

"  Wednesday,  October  2.  •  "We  opened  our  Confer- 
ence in  great  peace.  There  were  about  twenty-five 
members  present.  Six  hours  a  day  were  steadily 
occupied  with  business.  The  Committee  of  Claims 
and  of  Addresses  did  much  work,  and  it  was  done 
well,  I  completed  my  plan  for  the  coming  year, 
and  submitted  it  to  the  Presiding  Elders,  who  sug- 
gested but  two  alterations — may  they  be  for  the 
best!  On  the  Sabbath-day,  I  preached  to  about 
three  thousand  souls.  On  Tuesday,  after  the  rise  of 
Conference,  I  rode  to  Lexington ;  and  on  "Wednes- 
day, to  J.  P.  Hoard's,  Jessamine  county.  I  was  un- 
der affliction  of  body,  but  perfect  love,  peace  within, 
and  harmony  without,  healed  every  malady."* 

Thomas  Heliums,  Henry  Fisher,  Samuel  Sellers, 
David  Young,  and  Moses  Ashworth  were  admitted 
on  trial. 

The  names,  also,  of  Joshua  Oglesby,  William 
Ellington,  William  Houston,  and  Richard  Browning 
appear  for  the  first  time  in  the  list  of  the  Appoint- 
ments for  Kentucky. 

*  Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III.,  pp.  203,  204. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  465 

The  name  of  Thomas  Heliums  gathers  around  it 
a  melancholy  interest.  His  uniform  piety,  his  fer- 
vent zeal,  and  his  commanding  talents  as  a  preacher, 
together  with  his  tragic  end,  at  once  awaken  our 
anxiety. 

His  parents  were  pious,  and  they  instructed  him 
in  religion  from  an  early  age.  He  was  awakened 
under  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
soon  after  his  conversion  became  a  preacher. 

From  the  time  he  was  admitted  into  the  itinerant 
ranks  until  the  Conference  of  1813,  he  labored 
without  intermission  in  Kentucky,  Ohio,  Tennessee, 
and  Mississippi.  Worn  down  by  constant  toil  and 
exposure,  he  was  compelled  to  seek  for  rest,  and  in 
1813  asked  for  a  location. 

In  a  local  sphere,  he  first  engaged  in  teaching 
school  as  a  means  of  support;  but,  compelled  to 
relinquish  this  for  want  of  health,  he  entered  upon 
"  the  practice  of  law,  having  previously  studied  that 
profession."  Impressed,  however,  with  the  belief 
that  it  embarrassed  his  ministerial  and  Christian 
standing,  he  abandoned  it. 

Subsequent  to  his  location,  his  labors  for  the 
Church,  so  far  as  he  had  strength,  were  character- 
ized by  the  same  untiring  zeal  that  had  distinguished 
him  as  an  evangelist. 

Under  protracted  "affliction  of  body,  his  mind 
became  a  ruin,  and  the  remainder  of  his  life  was 
spent  in  a  state  of  partial  insanity.  During  this 
period  he  traveled  extensively,  and  preached  often ; 
and  it  is  remarkable,  that  no  trace  of  derangement 
could  be  seen  in  his  discourses.     He  investigated 


466  METHODISM 

subjects  with  clearness  and  force,  but  immediately 
after  leaving  the  pulpit  exhibited  signs  of  his  mal- 
ady. He  was  fearful  of  all  who  came  near,  imagin- 
ing them  to  be  enemies  who  were  trying  to  injure 
him,  and  often  exhibited  defensive  weapons  as  a 
means  of  deterring  them. 

"  The  end  of  this  good  brother  was  melancholy. 
While  traveling  in  what  was  then  the  Territory  of 
Arkansas,  he  fell  in  with  some  acquaintances,  who 
induced  him  to  attend  a  camp-meeting.  But  he 
seemed  to  be  greatly  harassed  by  fear  from  the 
time  he  reached  the  camp-ground,  and  could  not  be 
persuaded  to  preach  until  some  time  of  the  day  on 
Sunday,  when  he  took  the  stand,  and  preached  one 
of  the  most  lucid  and  powerful  sermons  those  pres- 
ent had  ever  heard.  On  leaving  the  pulpit,  he 
became  deeply  deranged,  manifesting  alarm  at  the 
approach  of  his  best  friends,  whom  he  forbade  to 
come  near  him,  at  the  same  time  showing  in  his 
hand  a  large  knife.  He  at  length  got  his  horse,  and 
started  from  the  meeting,  (which  was  held  on  the 
border  of  an  immense  prairie,)  out  into  the  track- 
less waste,  and  has  never  been  heard  of  since. 
"Whatever  became  of  him,  none  are  able  to  tell. 
Some  imagine  that  he  was  murdered  by  highway- 
men, who  were  known  to  infest  that  region.  He 
rode  an  uncommonly  fine  gelding,  and  the  presump- 
tion was,  that  they  destroyed  him  for  the  sake  of 
getting  his  horse.  What  strengthens  this  supposi- 
tion is,  that  his  horse  and  accouterments  have  never 
been  heard  of  either.  It  is  said  that,  some  months 
afterward,  the  skeleton  of  a  man  was  found,  away 


IN     KENTUCKY.  467 

out  in  the  prairie,  but  there  was  nothing  left  to 
form  a  clue  to  his  identity.  So  it  was:  Thomas 
Heliums  must  have  perished  in  that  far-off  solitude, 
without  any  to  minister  to  his  wants,  or  to  bury 
him.  He  is  lost  to  the  world;  but  we  have  no 
doubt  that  God  has  taken  him  to  himself,  and  that 
he  now  stands  among  those  who  have  gone  up 
through  great  tribulation.  He  was  an  able  and 
useful  preacher,  greatly  beloved  by  those  who  knew 
him,  and  much  lamented  in  his  death."  * 

Henry  Fisher  remained  in  the  Conference  but  a 
single  year,  when  his  name  disappears  from  the 
Minutes. 

Samuel  Sellers  and  David  Young,  who  entered 
the  Western  Conference  this  year,  became  useful 
and  eminent  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ.  In  another 
volume  we  shall  trace  them  in  the  various  fields 
they  occupied,  and  witness  their  labors  in  the  cause 
of  truth. 

Moses  Ashworth  entered  the  Conference  this  year, 
and  located  in  1809.  His  first  appointment  was  to 
the  Salt  River  Circuit,  after  which  he  was  sent  suc- 
cessively to  the  Wayne,  Silver  Creek,  and  Holston. 
We,  however,  find  him  again  in  1817,  a  member  of 
the  Tennessee  Conference,  and  in  charge  of  the 
LelSanon  Circuit.  At  the  close  of  this  year  he  again 
located. 

William  Ellington  and  Richard  Browning  had 
entered  the  Western  Conference  the  previous  year, 
but  each  spent  only  one  year  in  Kentucky — the 

*  Kev.  Jonathan  Stamper,  in  Home  Circle,  Vol.  III.,  pp.  214,  215. 


468  METHODISM 

former  on  the  Wayne,  and  the  latter  on  the  Hink- 
stone  Circuit.  After  traveling  four  years,  the  two 
latter  in  Ohio,  Mr.  Ellington  located. 

The  labors  of  Mr.  Browning  were  more  extensive. 
He  remained  in  the  itinerant  field  until  1810,  during 
which  time  his  name  stands  connected  with  the 
lioaring  River,  Hinkstone,  Clinch,  ITatchez,  and 
Cumberland  Circuits.  He  traveled  on  the  Cum- 
berland Circuit  two  years. 

Extensive  as  were  the  labors  of  William  Houston, 
from  1804,  the  time  of  his  entrance  into  the  Con- 
ference, until  his  location  in  181T,  they  were  be- 
stowed almost  entirely  on  other  and  distant  fields. 
In  1805,  he  was  appointed  to  the  Livingston,  and  in 
1807,  on  the  Limestone  Circuit;  after  which,  we 
find  him  no  more  in  Kentucky.  In  Tennessee, 
Ohio,  Mississippi,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  he  nobly 
prosecutes  his  glorious  work.  At  the  Conference 
of  1817,  he  located. 

The  labors  of  Joshua  Oglesby  belong  more  prop- 
erly to  a  subsequent  period. 

It  was  also  during  this  year  that  the  first  society 
was  organized  in  Louisville,  at  that  time  a  small 
village,  embraced  in  the  Salt  River  and  Shelby  Cir- 
cuit. 

We  regret  that  the  names  of  the  members  com- 
posing it  have  not  all  been  preserved.  Among 
them,  how^ever,  are  the  names  of  Mrs.  Morrison,  Wil- 
liam Farquar,  Thomas  Biscourt,  and  Messrs.  Catlin 
and  Mosel3^  They  worshiped  in  a  small  school- 
house  that  stood  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the 
court-house,  and   prayer  and    class-meetings  were 


IN    KENTUCKY.  469 

held  at  Thomas  Biscourt's,  who  lived  on  Jeiferson 
street,  between  Seventh  and  Eighth. 

In  a  subsequent  volume  we  propose  to  give  a  suc- 
cinct history  of  Methodism  in  Louisville,  and  hence 
take  leave  of  it  for  the  present. 

The  increase  for  this  year  w^as  only  three  hundred 
and  sixty-three. 

In  1806,  the  Western  Conference  was  appointed 
to  meet  at  "  Ebenezer,  ;N"ollichuckie,  in  Tennessee, 
September  15th."  The  session,  however,  did  not 
begin  until  the  20th.*     Bishop  Asbury  presided. 

At  this  Conference  Abbot  Goddard,  Hector  Sand- 
ford,  Joseph  Bennett,  and  Frederick  Hood,  were 
admitted  on  trial. 

The  only  field  of  ministerial  labor  occupied  by 
Abbot  Goddard  in  Kentucky  was  the  Barren  Circuit, 
to  which  he  was  appointed  this  year.  In  Ohio  he 
preached  for  many  years.  He  located  in  1810,  but 
in  1814,  we  again  find  him  a  member  of  the  Con- 
ference. In  1822,  he  again  locates,  but  in  1829,  we 
find  him  on  the  list  of  superannuated  members  of 
the  Ohio  Conference,  on  which  he  remains  until 
1841,  when  he  again  located. 

Hector  Sandford  was  admitted  this  year,  and  after 
traveling  the  Limestone,  Miami,  White  River,  and 
Mad  Hiver  Circuits,  located. 

Joseph  Bennett  traveled  successively  the  Dan- 
ville, Scioto,  Barren,  and  Guyandotte  Circuits,  after 
which  his  name  disappears  from  the  Minutes. 

Frederick  Hood  was  this  year  appointed  to  the 

^Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III.,  p.  23G. 


470  METHODISM 

Salt  River  Circuit,  and  in  1807,  to  the  Guyandotte, 
after  which  no  mention  is  made  of  him. 

Zadoc  B.  Thaxton,  a  name  familiar  to  the  Meth- 
odists of  Kentucky  for  half  a  century,  was  admitted 
on  trial  in  1805,  and  appointed  to  the  l^ashville  Cir- 
cuit. The  following  year,  he  enters  Kentucky  as 
an  itinerant,  in  charge  of  the  Red  River.  In  1807, 
we  find  him,  with  untiring  energy,  prosecuting  his 
labors  on  the  Duck  River  Circuit.  Failing  in  health, 
at  the  Conference  of  1808,  he  is  placed  on  the  super- 
numerary  list,  and  appointed  to  the  Roaring  River 
Circuit,  having  for  his  colleague  that  excellent  man, 
John  Travis.  In  1809,  somewhat  restored  in  health, 
he  travels  the  Barren  Circuit,  and  located  at  the 
close  of  that  year.  We  here  take  leave  of  Mr. 
Thaxton  for  the  present.  In  a  future  volume  we 
shall  meet  again,  in  the  itinerant  field,  a  faithful 
minister  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Abraham  Amos,  who  entered  the  Conference  in 
1803,  was  appointed  that  year  to  Natchez,  with 
Moses  Floyd,  Hezekiah  Ilarriman,  and  Tobias  Gib- 
son. In  1804,  he  was  sent  to  the  Miami  and  Mad 
River  Circuit,  and  in  1805,  to  the  Guyandotte,  in 
Ohio.  He  appears  for  the  first  time,  in  1806,  in 
Kentucky,  and  is  placed  on  the  Licking  Circuit, 
and  the  following  year  on  the  Livingston.  His  next 
appointment  is  to  the  Missouri  Circuit,  and  in  1809, 
he  is  appointed  to  the  Illinois.  At  the  Conference 
of  1810,  he  located. 

Joseph  Williams  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1804, 
and  appointed  to  the  Ilockhocking  Circuit ;  in  1805, 
to  New  River.     In  1806,  he  came  to  Kentucky,  and 


IN    KENTUCKY.  471 

was  appointed  to  the  Hinkstone ;  in  1807,  to  the 
\yhitewater ;  and  in  1808,  to  the  Scioto;  and  lo- 
cated in  1809. 

The  name  of  John  Thompson  only  appears  in  the 
Minutes  for  the  years  1805  and  1806  ;  the  former  year 
he  was  appointed  to  the  Mad  River,  in  Ohio,  and 
the  latter,  to  the  Hinkstone  Circuit,  in  Kentucky. 

William  Hitt  was  admitted  in  1805,  and  appointed 
to  Powell's  Yalley,  and  in  1806,  to  the  Danville  Cir- 
cuit ;  and  then  his  name  disappears  from  the  Minutes. 

Joseph  Oglesby  had  been  an  itinerant  for  three 
years  before  he  entered  Kentucky  as  a  preacher. 
His  appointment  for  1806  is  to  the  Shelby  Circuit. 
At  the  next  Conference,  he  removed  from  Ken- 
tucky, but  we  shall  meet  him  again,  in  1811,  on  the 
Salt  Eiver  Circuit,  faithfully  discharging  his  duties 
as  a  minister  of  Christ. 

But  little  attention  had  as  yet  been  paid  to  the 
erection  of  church-edifices  in  Kentucky.  "  The  first 
deed  for  ground  on  w^hich  to  build  a  church,  on 
record  in  Mason  county,  is  dated  1806.  The  lot 
contained  an  acre,  and  was  located  about  two  miles 
above  Maysville,  where  a  road  came  to  the  Ohio 
Eiver,  and  a  town  called  Rittersville  was  at  an  early 
date  laid  out.  Harry  Martin,  for  the  sum  of  one 
shilling,  sold  an  acre  of  land  to  build  a  house  of 
worship  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Sam«- 
uel  Shrouck,  Benjamin  Pollard,  John  Shepherd, 
John  Pollard,  Leonard  Simms,  Eichard  Eitter,  and 
James  Miles,  were  the  trustees."  * 

^  Letter  to  the  author  from  Dr.  M.  F,  Adarason,  of  Maysville, 
Kentucky. 


472  METHODISM 

The  religious  excitement,  tliat  had  prevailed  in 
Kentucky  since  1799,  had  somewhat  abated.  Be- 
sides, the  Territories  beyond  the  Ohio  River  were 
inviting  emigration  from  Kentucky,  and  hundreds 
of  families,  influenced  by  the  cheapness  of  the  lands, 
had  accepted  the  invitation,  and  were  leaving  the 
State ;  yet,  with  all  these  disadvantages,  the  Meth- 
odist Church  continued  to  increase  in  membership. 
At  the  close  of  this  year,  w^e  are  able  to  report  an 
increase  of  four  hundred  and  thirteen  members.  This 
year  is  distinguished  for  the  extension  of  Meth- 
odism into  the  far  West.  The  name  of  Missouri 
Circuit  appears  in  the  Minutes  for  the  first  time. 

The  Western  Conference  for  1807,  was  held  at 
Chillicothe,  Ohio,  September  14.  Bishop  Asbury 
again  presided.  He  says :  "  On  Monday^  we  opened 
our  Conference  in  great  peace  and  love,  and  con- 
tinued sitting,  day  by  day,  until  Friday  noon.  A 
delegation  of  seven  members  was  chosen  to  the 
General  Conference.  There  were  thirteen  preach- 
ers added,  and  we  found  an  addition  of  two  thou- 
sand two  hundred  members  to  the  society  in  these 
bounds ;  seven  deacons  were  elected  and  ordained, 
and  ten  elders;  two  preachers  only  located;  sixty- 
six  preachers  were  stationed."  * 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  Conference,  Bishop 
Asbury  visited  Kentucky,  passing  through  Cynthi- 
ana,  attending  ''  the  Camp-meeting  at  Mount  Geri- 
zim,"  and  preaching  at  several  points. 

At  this  session  of  the  Conference,  Thomas  Still- 

*  Asbury's  Journal,  Vol.  III.,  p.  268. 


IN    KENTUCKY.  473 

well,  John  Craig,  William  Lewis,  Jacob  Turmaii, 
Mynus  Lay  ton,  Henry  Mallory,  and  Josiah  Craw- 
ford, were  admitted  on  trial. 

Thomas  Stillwell,  Mynus  Layton,  and  Josiah 
Crawford  traveled  each  in  Kentucky  only  one  year. 
In  1807,  Thomas  Stillwell  was  appointed  to  the  Liv- 
ingston Circuit,  Mynus  Layton  to  the  Limestone, 
and  Josiah  Crawford  to  the  Shelby. 

John  Craig,  who  was  admitted  this  year  as  an 
itinerant  preacher,  was  appointed  to  the  Hartford 
Circuit.  Plain,  eccentric,  and  faithful  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  ministerial  duties,  he  labored  assid- 
uously in  the  effective  ranks,  until  the  Conference 
of  1835,  when  he  was  appointed  to  Kingston  Circuit, 
(Holston  Conference,)  as  supernumerary.  At  the 
next  Conference,  he  was  placed  on  the  list  of  super- 
annuates, where  he  remained  until  he  was  released 
by  death.  Li  a  subsequent  volume  we  shall  give 
a  full  account  of  his  labors  and  his  life. 

William  Lewis  traveled  only  three  years.  His 
appointments  were  to  the  Hartford,  Dixon,  and 
Henderson  Circuits.  He  located  at  the  Conference 
of  1810. 

Jacob  Turman  spent  the  first  two  years  of  his 
itinerant  ministry  in  Kentucky,  on  the  Limestone 
and  Hartford  Circuits.  Li  1809,  he  was  appointed 
to  the  Koaring  Kiver,  in  1810,  to  the  Guyandotte, 
and  in  1811,  to  the  St.  Yinceunes  Circuit.  In  1812, 
he  was  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  placed  in  charge 
of  the  Christian  Circuit,  then  in  the  Wabash  Dis- 
trict, in  the  Tennessee  Conference.  At  the  Con- 
ference of  1813,  he  located. 


474  METHODISM 

Ileniy  Mallory  was  connected  with  the  Confer- 
ence for  four  years,  all  of  which  were  spent  in  Ken- 
tucky, on-  the  Lexington,  Shelby,  and  Hinkstone 
Circuits. 

James  King,  who  was  this  year  appointed  to  the 
Wayne  Circuit,  had  entered  the  ranks  as  an  itiner- 
ant at  the  previous  Conference,  and  traveled  on  the 
Hockhocking  Circuit.  In  1807,  his  name  appears 
on  the  roll  for  Kentucky.  He  remained  in  Ken- 
tucky two  years,  having  spent  the  second  on  the 
Limestone  Circuit.  Li  1809,  he  w^as  appointed  to 
the  Saltville  Circuit,  and  located  in  1810. 

Sela  Paine  had  also  joined  the  Conference  in 
1806,  and  after  traveling  the  White  River  Circuit  in 
Ohio,  was  appointed  in  1807  to  the  Wayne  Circuit, 
in  Kentucky,  where  he  remained  for  two  years.  In 
1809,  his  appointment  was  to  Silver  Creek,  in  Indi- 
ana. The  following  year,  he  is  sent  to  the  ^Natchez 
Circuit,  and  in  1811,  to  the  Wilkinson,  both  in  Mis- 
sissippi. In  1812,  we  find  him  prosecuting  his 
labors  on  the  Holston  Circuit,  and  the  following 
two  years,  on  the  ISToUichuckie  and  Abingdon.  He 
located  at  the  Conference  of  1815. 

Milton  Ladd  entered  the  Conference  in  1806,  and 
was  appointed  to  the  Scioto  Circuit.  In  1807,  he 
enters  Kentucky,  and  is  placed  in  charge  of  the 
Licking  Circuit.  In  1808,  he  is  appointed  to  the 
Tennessee  Valley  Circuit,  and  in  1809,  he  labors  on 
the  Lexington  Circuit,  and  locates  at  the  close  of 
the  year. 

Joseph  Hays,  whose  name  stands  this  year  in  con- 
nection with  the  Lexington  Circuit,  became  an  itin- 


IN     KENTUCKY.  475 

Grant  prcaclior  in  1802.  He  first  appeared  on  tlie 
Stafford  Circuit,  and  then  traveled  successively  the 
Fairfax,  Pendleton,  Littleton,  and  Tioga,  all  in  the 
Baltimore  Conference.  He  spent  but  six  months  on 
the  Tioga  Circuit,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the 
"Western  Conference,  and  appointed  to  the  Hock- 
hocking,  in  Ohio,  and  the  following  year,  which 
closes  his  labors  as  an  itinerant,  he  preaches  in 
Kentucky,  on  the  Lexington  Circuit.  In  1808  he 
located. 

Among  the  men  who  gained  a  merited  distinction 
in  the  Church,  we  mention  with  pleasure  the  name 
of  Elisha  W.  Bowman.  The  sacrifices  he  made,  the 
privations  he  suffered,  and  the  labors  he  performed, 
as  one  of  the  pioneer  preachers,  entitle  him  to  the 
gratitude  of  the  whole  Church  in  the  South  and 
West ;  and  his  great  usefulness  embalms  his  memory 
in  the  hearts  of  thousands.  Li  our  next  volume  we 
will  make  a  record  of  his  faithful  labors. 

The  rapid  progress  that  Methodism  was  now 
making  in  the  West,  was  an  occasion  of  devout 
gratitude  to  God.  The  Silver  Creek  Circuit,  in 
the  Indiana  Territory,"^  was  formed  this  year,  and 
placed  upon  the  Minutes  in  the  Kentucky  District, 
and  Moses  Ashworth  appointed  in  charge  of  it.  In 
Southern  Kentucky,  our  work  was  enlarging.  A 
_  small  society  this  year  "was  organized,  about  ten 

*As  early  as  1793,  there  was  a  preaching  -  place  about  one  mile 
from  Utica,  which  is  a  few  miles  above  Louisville,  on  the  Indiana 
shore,  where  Judge  Prather,  William  Farquar,  and  John  Bate  held 
their  membership.  This  place  was  included  in  the  Salt  Piiver 
Circuit. 


476  METHODISM 

miles  north  of  Russellville,  consisting  of  Philip 
Kennerly,  Jane  Kennerly,  John  Hanner  and  his 
wife,  and  John  Groves  and  his  wife.  This  little 
band  of  six  members  worshiped  for  a  few  years,  in 
a  private  house,  when  they  built  a  neat  log  house  in 
1811,  and  called  it  Kennerly's  Chapel."  '*'  '^  It  "  was 
also  during  this  year  that  the  Eev.  Richard  Pope, 
mentioned  in  a  previous  chapter,  passed  through 
Logan  county,  and  preached  at  the  residence  of 
John  Price,  about  seven  miles  north-east  of  Russell- 
ville. In  that  neighborhood,  soon  after,  a  society 
was  organized,  of  which  Maxey  Price,  Thomas  and 
Mary  Johnson  were  members."  f 

About  the  same  time  a  society  was  organized 
at  the  Pond  Meeting-house,  about  two  miles  north- 
west of  Franklin,  in  Logan  (now  Simpson)  county. 
A  few  Methodists  had  settled  in  this  countj^  among 
whom  were  Messrs.  Slocum,  Wright  Taylor,  and 
Edward  Hall.  Under  the  labors  of  these  pious 
laymen,  a  meeting  was  held  at  Mr.  Hall's, J  which 
resulted  in  a  blessed  revival  of  religion.  Shortly 
afterward,  a  flourishing  society  was  organized,  and 
the  Church  known  as  the  Pond  Meeting-house, 
erected.? 

These  organizations  became  centers  of  Methodism 
in  their  respective  localities,  and  sent  out  a  healthful 
religious    influence   into   all   the   country   around. 

*  Letter  to  the  author  from  the  Eev.  A.  C.  Dewitt,  of  Logan 
county,  Kentucky. 

f  Letter  from  the  Rev.  A.  C.  Dewitt. 
I  Edward  Hall  became  a  preacher. 
\  Letter  from  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Redford. 


IN     KENTUCKY.  477 

They  have  been  the  scenes  of  many  revivals,  and  at 
the  present  period  enjoy  prosperity. 

The  increase  in  the  membership  in  Kentucky  for 
this  year  was  two  hundred  and  sixteen. 

We  have  not  failed  to  observe  the  large  number 
of  the  preachers,  whose  names  disappear  from  the 
roll  of  the  Conference,  after  they  had  traveled  a 
few  years.  Indeed,  many  of  them  only  remained 
for  a  single  year  in  the  itinerant  field.  This  cannot 
be  attributed  either  to  any  want  of  stability,  or  of 
devotion  to  the  Church.  The  privations,  the  sacri- 
fices, and  the  exposures,  incident  to  the  life  of  a 
traveling  preacher,  at  this  period,  as  well  as  the 
great  amount  of  labor  to  be  performed,  exceeded 
the  strength  of  the  majority  of  men. 

It  is  gratifying,  however,  to  know  that  these  men, 
when,  with  impaired  health,  they  were  compelled  to 
dissolve  their  connection  with  the  Conference,  car- 
ried with  them  into  their  retirement,  hearts  devoted 
to  the  great  work  in  which  they  had  been  engaged, 
and  in  a  sphere  more  circumscribed,  they  contribu- 
ted their  influence  and  their  energy  to  the  welfare 
and  prosperity  of  the  Church.  In  them  the  itinerant 
preacher  always  found  wise  counselors,  and  the 
Church,  in  the  communities  in  which  they  located, 
patterns  of  patience  and  of  piety. 

We  think  this  an  opportune  period  at  which  to 
close  our  first  volume. 

Only  twenty-two  years  had  elapsed  since  the 
name  of  the  "Kentucky"  Circuit  first  appeared  in 
the  General  Minutes  of  the  Church.  Two  men,  in- 
fluenced by  the  highest  motive — the  salvation  of 


478  METHODISM 

souls — had  left  the  comforts  of  home,  to  preach  the 
gospel  of  Christ  to  the  early  settlers  in  the  District. 
In  the  prosecution  of  their  glorious  work,  with 
their  lives  in  their  hands,  they  encountered  perils  at 
every  step.  Their  successors,  too,  have  passed  in 
review  before  us.  During  this  period  some  had 
gone  from  labor  to  reward.  "We  are  not  only  per- 
mitted to  recount  the  privations,  sacrifices,  and  toils 
of  these  noble  men,  but  the  remarkable  success 
witb  which  their  ministry  was  rewarded.  Instead 
of  a  single  circuit  in  Kentucky,  we  have  twelve 
pastoral  charges,  in  which  tAventy-two  preachers  are 
employed,  and  comprising  a  membership  of  six 
thousand  three  hundred  and,  eighteen. 

Since  the  Conference  lield  in  the  spring  of  1800, 
the  population  of  Kentucky  had  increased  less  than 
one  hundred  per  cent.,  while,  during  the  same  period, 
the  membership  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
had  increased  nearly  three  hundred  j^er  cent. 

Nor  were  the  beneficial  results  of  the  labors  of 
our  fathers  confined  to  Kentucky.  While  embody- 
ing, as  Methodism  does,  the  true  spirit  of  apostolic 
Christianit}^,  it  continually  increased  in  strength,  so 
that  it  became  incorporated  by  degrees  into  the 
various  religious  systems  in  the  State,  imparting  to 
tliem  its  vitality  and  energy.  At  the  same  time, 
it  looked  beyond  its  own  limits,  upon  each  rising 
State,  on  our  borders  in  the  West,  and  became 
the  center  from  which  the  whole  West  has  been 
evangelized. 

As  early  as  1799,  the  Miami  Circuit,  in  the  North- 
western  Territory,    appears    in    the    Minutes;    in 


IN     KENTUCKY.  479 

1803,  the  Illinois;  in  1806,  the  Missouri,  and  in 
1807,  the  Silver  Creek,  in  Indiana,  and  at  an  earlier 
period,  in  Middle  and  East  Tennessee,  Circuits  had 
been  formed,  and  flourishing  societies  organized, 
and  to  "the  lowlands  of  Mississippi"  the  message 
of  salvation  had  been  sent,  and  the  tidings  of  mercy 
proclaimed.  As  at  this  time  we  look  upon  the  vast 
field  embraced  in  this  Western  Conference,  of 
which  the  Kentucky  Circuit,  formed  in  1786,  was 
the  nucleus,  with  its  Jiue  districts,  forty -one  circuits, 
sixty-six  traveling  preachers,  and  ff teen  thousand  two 
hundred  and  two  white  and  seven  hundred  and  ninety-jive 
colored  members,  extending  from  the  Lakes  in  the 
North  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  from  the  Alle- 
ghany- Mountains  in  the  East  as  far  toward  the  set- 
ting sun  as  civilization  had  made  its  impress,  we 
stand  amazed,  and  with  hearts  filled  with  gratitude, 
exclaim,  ""What  hath  God  wrought !" 


THE   END. 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY 


,^:a.  '  <-*o^^^  ^ 


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